IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


^ 


1.0 


1.1 


Ui|21   |U 
ttISi   122 

E  lu  ^^ 

£  Its   110 


IL25  in  1.4 


I 


1.6 


'V^>.  \ 


// 


Fhotogi^aphic 

^Sciences 

Corporation 


^ 


c\ 


\ 


v\ 


as  WIST  MAIN  STMIT 
WfUTM.N.Y.  ,«SM 

(7U)l7a-4S03 


'^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductiona  /  Injtitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


6^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notat  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Inatituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  iiaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


D 


□ 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvarture  da  coulaur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagAe 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pellicuMe 


r~n    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gAographiques  9n  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (I.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illuatrations/ 
Planchaa  et/ou  illustrations  •n  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autres  documents 


r~p\    Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 


along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serrAe  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainas  pages  blanches  aioutias 
lors  d'une  restauratlon  apparaissant  dans  la  taxte, 
mais,  lorsqua  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  «t4  film*as. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl4mantatres; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
da  cet  exemplaire  qui  sent  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAas 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurAas  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxec 
Pages  d6color*es,  tachaties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachAas 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prin 

QualitA  in^gala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  maierii 
Comprend  du  material  supplimantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Aditlon  disponible 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

I      I  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~71  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmies  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  mailleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dassous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


2ex 


XX 


V 

12X 


lex 


20X 


24X 


2tX 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  h«r«  has  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  the  gsnsrosity  of: 

Library 

Trant  University,  Poteriiorough 


L'oxsmpiairs  fiimi  fut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
ginArositA  da: 

Ubnry 

Trrnit  University,  Pwtarborough 


Tha  imagas  appearing  hare  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Icaeping  with  the 
filming  contract  speciflcationa. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatratad  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  orlglnel  copiea  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatratad  Imprea- 
sion,  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illuatratad  impreaaion. 


Las  images  suivantas  ont  Ati  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  natteti  da  I'exempiaire  film«.  at  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fiimage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprlm«e  sont  f  iimAs  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'iliustretion,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  axempleires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'illustration  et  •n  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meening  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  imege  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUiVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifis  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  certes,  planches,  tabieeux,  etc.,  peuvent  *tre 
fiimAs  A  dss  taux  da  reduction  diffArants. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grond  pour  fttro 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  ii  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArisur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bes,  sn  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  lies  diegrammes  suivants 
iiiustrant  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

\ 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


The  Amkhk'An  Pkeii. 


—  Sec  jKiije  ;{(Mi 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


*■ 


AND   THEIR  KIN 


;'.f^:&^         ; 


•  "-■-V'c 


BY 

MABEL   OSGOOD    WRIGHT 

EDITED    BY 
FRANK  M.   CHAPMAN 

ILLUSTRATED  BY 
ERNEST   SETON  THOMPSON 


See  p(i<J<^  *^'"' 


i 


THE   MACAHLLAN    COMPANY 

LONDON:   MACMILIAN  &  CO.,  Ltd. 

1808 

All  rightK  reserved 


TrMtf  Unlv^rtlty  Ubwiiy 

ffniitoAou««i,  om. 


^^7 


QL  noi^  ■M'i 


n 


Copyright,  1898, 
By  the  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 


NortoooU  i3rcBa 

J.  S.  CuiliiiiR  Si  Co.      Borwitk  &  Smith 
Nurwoud  Mass.  U.S.A. 


QL7  0(^.Vl'-^^ 


To 
WILLIAM  T.   HOENADAY 

DIKECTOK    OK    THE    NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK 

STfjig  ISoofe  10  ©etJtcatcti 

BY  THE  AUTHOR 

IN  RECOGNITION   OF   HIS   EFFORTS   TO   PRESERVE   THE 

LIVING   AMERICAN   MAMMALS    WHERE    THEV 

MAY   BE    KNOWN    TO   THE   CHILDREN 

OF   FUTURE    GENERATIONS 


38072 


SCENE: 
Orchard  Farm  and  Twenty  Miles  around. 

TIME: 
Fall  until  Spring. 


CHARACTERS: 

Dn.  Roy  Hunter,  a  naturalist. 

Olive,  the  Doctor's  daughter. 

Nat  and  Dodo,  the  Doctor's  nephew  and  niece. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blake,  the  parents  of  Nat  and  Dodo. 

TJap,  a  lame  country  boy. 

Mammy  Bun,  an  old  colored  nurse  and  cook. 

Rod,  the  fanner. 

Olaf,  a  sailor  and  fisherman. 

Nez  LoNCi,  a  charcoal  burner  and  woodsman. 

ToisETTE,  Nez'  wife. 

Quick,  a  fox  terrier. 

Mr.  Wolf,  a  St.  Bernard  dog. 


Explanation.  —  Dr.  Hunter,  after  travelling  for  many 
years,  returned  to  his  old  home  at  Orchard  Farm,  with  his 
daughter  Olive,  aged  seventeen,  and  Mammy  Bun.  He 
invited  Nat  and  Dodo,  who  had  always  lived  in  the  city,  to 
spend  the  summer  with  him,  so  that  they  might  learn  about 
outdoor  things,  and  told  them  the  story  of  the  birds. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blake  came  for  the  children  in  the  autumn, 
and  they  expected  to  return  to  the  city  to  school ;  but  Dr. 
Hunter,  who  was  always  making  delightful  surprises,  arranged 
for  the  whole  family  to  spend  the  winter  at  the  Farm.  What 
they  did,  and  how  they  became  acquainted  with  the  Four- 
footed  Americans,  is  told  in  this  story. 

vii 


// 


Xr! 


I 


)  ;• 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS 


fH 


CHAPTER  I 


In  the  Pasture 


CHAPTER  III 


Waffles  and  a  Walk 


CHAPTER  IV 
Climiung  the  Animal  Thee 

CHAPTER  V 
An  AuTi'MN  Holiday  ... 

Woodclmcks,  Muskrats,  etc. 


CHAPTER  VI 


OUT-DOOIl   COOKEUY 


CaMI'   SATinDAY    . 


CHAPTER  VII 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Exi'LANATION   NkMIT      . 

The  Brotherhood  of  Heasts. 


An  Invitation 


CHAPTER  IX 
Ix 


PAGE 
1 


CHAPTER  II 
The  Animal  Tree 11 


.      81 


.      41 


1  •  •  •  • 


00 


82 


•  ••••• 


.      04 


110 


I 


X  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   X 

PAOE 

MoNARCHS  i\  Exile 116 

The  American  Bison. 

CHATTER   XI 

Rabbit  Tkacks 137 

Wood  Hare  —  Varying  Hare — Jack  Rabbit  —  Marsh  Hare 

—  rika,  Little  Ciiief,  or  Whistling  Hare. 

CHAPTER   XII 

The  Winter  Woods .     166 

Trails  and  Trapping. 

CHAPTER  XIII  \ 

Nez  Long's  Menagerie 174 

The  Little  Fiii-bearers  —  Otter  —  Skunk  —  Little   Striped 
Skunk  —  Weasel  —  Sable  —  Fisher  —  Wolverine  —  Mink 

—  Raccoon,  etc. 

CHAPTER   XIV 

Foxes  and  Snow-shoes 194 

Red  Fox  —  Gray  Fox  —  Arctic  Fox. 

CHAPTER    XV 

Woi-Fl 212 

The  Timber  Wolf,  and  the  Coyote,  or  Prairie  Wolf. 

CHAPTER  XVI  ' 

Coi'SiNS  OF  Cats 223 

Puma — Ocelot  —  Wildeat,  also  the  Civet  Cat,  which  is  no 
Cat  at  all. 

CHAPTER    XVII 
TiiiiEE  Hahdv  Moi  ntaineers 238 

The    (hizzly    Hear — Rig   Horn  Slieep  —  Rocky   Mountain 
Goat. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


XI 


137 


CHAPTER   XVIII 


PAnK 


On  the  Plains 254 

The  Pronghorn  or  Antelope  —  Prairie  Dog — Coyote  and 


Badger. 


CHAPTER   XIX 


Under  the  Pot.au  Star 

The  Woodland  Caribou  —  Musk  Ox  —  Polar  Bear. 


270 


:    V  CHAPTER   XX 

A  Sealskin  Jacket  at  Home 282 

The  Walrus  —  Sea  Lion  —  Sea  Bear  or  Fur  Seal  and  the 
Harbor  Seal. 


104 


CHAPTER  XXI 

Horns,  Prongs,  and  Antlers 208 

Elk  —  American  Deer  —  Growth  and    Difference  between 
Horns  and  Antlers  explained.  •  ' 


CHAPTER  XXII 


Nez'  Bia  Moose 


300 


2P2 


223 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
Fish  or  Flesh 320 

Manatee  —  Sporin    Whale  —  Ilowhead    Whale  —  Finback 
Whale  —  Porpoise  —  Dolphin. 


238 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

Rats  ano  Mice 331 

Muskrat  —  White  Lemming  —  White-footed  Mouse  —  Cot- 
ton Rat — Wood  or  Pack  Rat  —  Marsh  Rat  —  Pouched 
(lopher  —  Gray  Pocket  Gopher  —  Kangaroo  l{at  —  Pocket 
Mouse  —  Jumping  Mouse. 


Xli  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   XXV 

Mischief  Makers ,        , 

Red  Squirrel — Flying  Squirrel  —  G ray  Squirrel  —  Fox  Squir- 
rel —  Chipmunk  —  Striped  Spermophile  —  Eine-tailed  or 
Rock  Spermophile. 


PAGE 

349 


CHAPTER   XXVI 


The  Beaveii's  Story 


305 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

"B'ars  and  Possums" 376 

Mammy  Bun's  Story.  t 

CHAPTER   XXVIII 

From  Moletown  to  Batvim.e 387 

Common  Mole  —  Star-nosed  Mole  —  Short-tailed  Shrew  — 
Least  Shrew  —  Hoary  Bat  —  Little  Red  Bat  —  Brown  Bat 
—  Little  Brown  Bat  —  House  or  Snouty  Bat. 


I 


CHAPTER   XXIX 


A  FouR-FooTEi)  Dance 


.     403 


LADDER    FOR     CLIMIUNG    THE     NORTH     AMERICAN 

MAMMAL    TREE 416 


INDEX 


•  f 


.     431 


;/ 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


[The  artist  has  furnished  his  own  incidents 
illustrations,  and  the  autlior  wishes  to  express 
use  of  the  same  in  the  stories.] 


for  many  of  these 
her  thanks  for  the 


PAOE 


TiiK  American  Deek 

Fronti 

'<piec6 

Tom,  Jehuv,  and  Comet 

6 

Veutehrate  Branches  op  the  Animal  Tree 

37 

The  Wooijcmrcic 

44 

Front  Taw  and  Tail  of  Muskrat   . 

49 

The  Li'Mrer  Camp 

72 

'J'he  Collared  Peccary     .... 

00 

White-footed  Mouse          .... 

01 

NoiiTii  American  Mammal  Tree 

08 

Tin;  MiHON 

118 

Wood  Hare 

140 

Maksii  Hare 

.     146 

.lAriv  Hauuit 

.     148 

Vahyino  Hare 

161 

I'iKA,  Little  Chief,  or  Wiiistlino  Hare 

164 

A  Red  Fox,  Hlntino         .... 

168 

Canada  roRCiiiMNE 

162 

Common  Skink 

176 

Otter  and  Fisher 

178 

Little  Strii'ed  Skink       .... 

180 

Wi'.ASEL  OR  Krmine 

.     183 

The  Mink 

186 

Pine  Marten  and  Red  Squirrel 

.     186 

xiii 


pif^; 


w 

"  h 

"r 


XIV 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Lynx 


Wolverine  . 

The  Raccoon 

The  Arctic  Fox 

Timber  Wolk 

Civet  Cat    . 

The  Ocelot 

IlijADs  OF  House  Cat,  Wildcat,  and  Canada 

The  Pl'ma  hunting  Klk    . 

Grizzly  Beau  and  Bicihorn  Siikep 

Mountain  Goats 

Drama  ok  tiik  Plains 

The  Badger        .... 

Woodland  Caribou    . 

Musk  Ox 

Polar  Beau  and  Seal 

Atlantic  Walrus 

Sea  Bi:au  ou  Fur  Skal 

IIarbok  Seal       .... 

IIkads  of   Antelopk  or   Proxohorn,  Mountain  Goat 

IIOliN,    AND   Mi-sK  Ox 
Heads  of  Wooi)l\nd  Cauiuou,  Moose,  and  Elk 
Nkz'  Hig  Moosk  . 
The  Manatke 
The  Si'i;i!m  Whale 
FiNHACK  Whale 
The  Pori'oise 
Dolphins 
Meadow  Mouse  . 
The  IVfi  skuat 
Cotton  Rat 
Maiihii  ]?at  . 
Wood  Hat    . 

Pouched  or  Mole  Gopher 
Gray  Pocket  Gophkr 


Big- 


PAGE 

.IH 

189 

|B(angaro( 

192 

BROCKET   ]\ 

202 

■Tumping  I 

212 

•■lying  S( 

226 

|KjRay  S(iu 

228 

S'iiE  Chip 

229 

Striped  S 

236 

iiocK  Spe 

240 

Jeavers  a 

246 

Ilack  Be 

256 

'he  Oposs 

268 

-ITTLE   Br 

276 

Common  M 

278 

TAR-NOSEI 

280 

HORT-TAIL 

284 

lEAST   SlIRl 

289 

1 

294 

1 

300 

fl 

302 

V 

316 

1 

322 

1 

326 

1 

327 

M 

328 

330 

332 

.337 

:wo 

340 

341 

343 

344 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


XV 


PAGE                'U 

180           W^ 

ANOAROO  Rat    . 

192          W< 

)CKET  Mouse     . 

202           W' 

;mping  Mouse    . 

212           V 

LYING  Squirrels 

225           V 

RAY  Squirrel    . 

228          ff 

iE  Chipmunk    . 

220           »■> 

rRiPED  Spermophilb 

283           W 

IK'K    SpERMOPIIILE        , 

240          V 

EAVERS    AT    WORK 

246          V 

LACK  Bear 

256          V' 

IE  Opossum 

.   268         B' 

TTLE  Brown  Bat     . 

^  276         »• 

)MM()N  Mole 

par-nosei)  Mole 

280         V' 

lORT-TAiLEi)  Shrew  . 

284          W 

EAST  Shrew 

.     289          ■ 

•     ^^*          1 

'     800         1 

•     ^^^          a 

•         .  ' 

.     816         M 

.     322         9 

•   3'^^      n 

.     327 

.    328 

.    330 

.    832 

.    337 

.    830 

.    840 

** 

.    341 

.     348 

.    344 

PAGE 

345 
347 
348 
352 
358 
360 
302 
364 
366 
379 
383 
389 
390 
391 
394 
395 


m 

;|'^-. 


I 


'I 


mm 


.  / 


iii 

id 

K)ll 


rOU]l-FOOTED   AMERICANS 


IN  THE  PASTURE 


y 


1/ 


k 


r^T  was  circus  day  down  at  East  Village. 
'       "^    Not  tlie  common  circus,  with  a  Lion, 
Elephant,  a  cage  or  two  of  ^Monkeys, 
a  fat  clown  turning  somersaults,  and 
a  beautiful  lady  floating  through 
paper  hoops,  but  a  real  American 
circus  —  the  Wild  West  Show, 
w  ith  its  scouts,  frontiersmen,  Bron- 
cos,   bucking    Ponies,    Indians, 
and  Huff  aloes. 
Of  course  the  House  Peoi)le  at  Orchard  Farm  made 
holiday  and  went  down  to  see  the  show,  giving  many 
lifferent  reasons  for  so  doing.      Dr.  Hunter  and  Mr. 
lake  said  it  was  their    duty  as  patriotic   Ameri(!ans 
encourage  native  institutions,  and  Mrs.  lilake  said 
at  she  must  surely  go  to  see  that  the  young  people 
d  not  eat  too  many  peanuts  and  j>opcoru  Walls.     The 
)ung  people  thought  that  going  to  the  circus  was  a 
Inst  h<\  uidess  one  was  ill,  or  had  done  something  very, 
ry  wrong,  that  merited  the  severest  sort  of  punish- 
ent.       Mammy    Huu,    too,   who    iiad    been    groaning 
H  1 


i 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


iii  !'; 


about  pains  in  her  bones  for  fully  a  week,  took  out 
her  best  black  bonnet  trimmed  with  a  big  red  rose,  — 
headgear  that  she  only  wore  on  great  occasions,  — 
saying :  — 

"  Pears  to  me  nuffin  eber  does  ma  reumatiz  de  heap 
o'  good  like  hearin'  a  real  circus  ban'  a  playin'.  Land 
alibe,  honies  I  I  feel  so  spry  alreddy  seems  like  I'se 
could  do  a  caike  walk  dis  yer  minit." 

ff%  ^f  ^^  ^^ 

It  was  October.  Everything  looked  cheerful  at  the 
farm.  The  maples  were  dressed  in  dazzling  red  and 
yellow  ;  heaps  of  red  and  yellow  apples  lay  under  the 
orchard  trees,  and  the  house  and  barns  wore  a  glisten- 
ing new  coat  of  yellow  paint,  with  white  trimmings 
and  green  blinds. 

A  deeper  yellow  shone  from  the  fields  where  jolly 
pumpkins  seemed  to  play  hide-and-seek  behind  the 
corn  stacks,  which  the  children  called  wigwams  when 
they  played  Indian.  Everything  looked  as  thrifty  as 
if  the  outdoor  season  was  beginning  instead  of  nearly 
at  an  end ;  and  well  it  might,  for  it  had  been  many 
years  since  the  old  farm  held  such  a  family.  There 
would  be  no  closed  blinds,  leaf-choked  paths,  or  snow- 
drifts left  to  bury  the  porch,  this  winter. 

"Yes,  the  Chimney  Swift  was  right,"  said  tlie 
Meadowlark  in  the  old  field,  to  the  Song  Sparrow  who 
was  singing  cheerfully  in  a  barberry  bush.  "  We  shall 
be  better  off  than  before  these  House  People  cami; : 
they  have  Jilready  begun  to  scatter  food  in  the  barn- 
yard, though  there  are  enough  gleanings  about  to  last 
us  citizens  until  snow  comes.  The  village  boys  never 
think  of  coming  up  here  now  to  slioot,  as  they  used 


lo  every 

Ind  the 

)oldly  s] 

|wo  to  t( 

"  Wh( 

Ihe  you] 

iad  com 

Ihe  bam 

afraid  tl) 

"  Oh  1 

lave  onl 

lar  end 

[ime,  an 

^ever  sa 

^as  to  r 

Ihe  flies 

lious,  yo 

^erbs  mi 

"  Now 

f'ork,  aiK 

lock,  anti 

plenty  to 

is  very 

^ear-old, 

[11  the  w 

tlie  lo\ 

inies  togi 

'^  There 

ig  his  in 

[now  aboi 

People  ar( 

nd  the  b( 


IN  THE  PASTURE 


took  out 
:l  rose,  — 
asions,  — 

z  de  heap 

i'.     Land 

like  I'se 


Eul  at  the 
T  red  and 
under  the 
a  glisten- 
trimmings 

^here  jolly 
ehind  the 
^ams  when 
thrifty  as  | 
of  nearly 
een  many 
.     There 
or  snow- 
said   the 
irrow  who  a 
We  shall 
)le  cami' : 
the  barn- 
)ut  to  last 
)oys  never 
they  used 


lo  every  season  when  the  wind  began  to  blow  cold  "  ; 
iind  the  Meadowlark  flew  to  the  top  rail  of  the  fence, 
)oldly  showing  his  yellow  breast,  and  giving  a  note  or 
two  to  tell  how  trustful  he  was. 

"  Where  have  you  been  all  summer  ?  "  asked  Comet, 
ihe  young  trotter,  of  the  big  brown  farm  horses,  who 
lad  come  to  drink  at  the  spring  in  the  pasture  below 
|he  barns.  "  It  is  so  long  since  I  have  seen  you  I  was 
tfraid  that  you  had  been  sold." 

"  Oh  no,  youngster  !  "  replied  Tom.  "  Jerry  and  I 
lave  only  been  summering  up  at  the  wood  lots  at  the 
lar  end  of  the  farm.  We  had  our  shoes  off  all  the 
|ime,  and  could  amuse  ourselves  as  we  liked.  We 
^ever  saw  a  harness  or  wagon ;  all  the  Avork  we  did 
ras  to  roll  in  the  grass  or  wade  in  the  river  to  keep 
[he  flies  off.  The  grazing  up  there  was  simply  deli- 
lious,  you  know,  —  all  sorts  of  relishing  little  bits  of 
}erbs  mixed  in  with  the  grass. 

"Now  that  we  have  had  our  rest,  it  is  our  turn  to 
^ork,  and  gray  Bess  and  Billy  have  gone  to  the  pad- 
lock, and  we  have  come  to  take  their  places.  There  is 
ilenty  to  do  on  this  farm  in  fall  and  winter,  though 
is  very  lonelv.  I  can  remember,  when  I  was  a  four- 
[ear-old,  that  House  People  lived  in  the  big  barn  with 
11  the  windows,  and  they  used  to  ride  over  the  snow 
the  low  wagon  without  wheels,  and  we  all  had  fine 
mies  together."  . 

'  There  are  fine  times  here  now,"  said  Comet,  shak- 
h,m"  his  mane  importantly;  "but  of  course  you  do  not 
[now  about  them,  because  you  have  been  away.  House 
*eople  are  living  here  again.  We  all  have  great  fun 
lid  the  best  of  eating,  with  more  picnics  than  plough- 


I 


4  FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 

ing  for  the  horses.  Chihlreii  play  about  the  farm,  who 
feed  me  with  bunches  of  pink  clover  and  little  lumps 
of  nice-tasting  stuff  they  call  sugar.  I  mistrusted  it 
at  first,  it  looked  so  like  the  hard  pebbles  in  the  brook, 
but  it  chewed  up  all  right  when  I  nibbled  some." 

'•''You  don't  look  as  if  you  had  been  having  Aa?/" enough 
to  eat,  in  spite  of  the  good  times,"  said  Tom,  pityingly. 
"Only  look  at  your  ribs.  I  can  count  every  one  of 
them.  If  you  were  harnessed  to  a  plough,  you  would 
come  apart  at  the  very  first  pull.  How  could  you 
drag  a  load  of  hay?  As  for  working  in  the  thresh- 
ing-machine, those  little  feet  of  yours  would  catch 
between  the  slats.  What  use  are  thin  horses,  any- 
way ? "  concluded  Tom,  rather  rudely,  not  realizing 
that  his  remarks  were  impolite,  while  Jerry  looked 
proudly  along  his  fat  sides  and  pawed  the  ground  with 
a  hoof  nearly  as  large  as  a  dinner  plate. 

Comet  was  going  to  answer  angrily  and  say  some- 
thing very  saucy  about  clumsy  work  horses,  but  he 
stopped  himself  in  time,  being  every  inch  a  thorough- 
bred ;  for  good  breeding  shows  in  the  manners  of 
animals  as  Avell  as  in  House  People. 

"  No,"  he  answered  after  a  moment,  "  I  can't  plough, 
nor  drag  a  load,  nor  work  the  threshing-machine ;  but 
horses  are  made  for  different  kinds  of  work.  You  do 
not  think  a  cow  useless  because  she  gives  milk  insteud 
of  doing  any  sort  of  pulling,  do  you?  Now  I  can  drac: 
the  little  wagon  over  to  tiie  railway  station  —  when 
the  great  iron  horse  drags  the  string  of  covered  wagons 
along  the  ground  on  the  queer  shiny  fence  rails  —  in 
half  the  time  it  takes  you  to  go  round  the  ten-acre 
lot.     When  I  hear  that  horse  coming,  breathing  hard 


md  roa 
Bee  my 
kvJint  til; 
)0  the  1] 
kvould  3 
jmiling 

"I  CO 

jstly.     ' 

)anged 

)elieve. 

red  as 

rolled  oi 

seemed  t 

soft.     S 

flinner  f( 

I    "Wei] 

fiials    ha 

stormy  v 

tlie   best 

line  littl 

ler  sty  li 

^ere  Co^ 

-  We 
phat  thei 
ill  beha 
)orn  old 
lot  butt( 
"  We'^ 
the  other 
[ng  a  feu 
"  I  doi 
"  There  ii 


IN   THE  PASTURE 


irm,  who 
le  lumps 
rusted  it 
le  brook, 
e." 

If  enough 
)ityingly. 
•y  one  of 
ou  wouhl 
ould  you 
le  thresh- 
old catch 
L'ses,  any- 
realizing 
L'y  looked 
Dund  with 

say  some- 
s,  but  he 
thorough- 
anners   of 

I't  plough, 

hine;  but 

You  do 

Ik  insteiul 

can  drag 

I  —  where 

ul  wagons 

rails  —  ill 

e  ten-acre 

hing  hard 


md  roaring,  I  prick  up  my  ears,  and  you  can  hardly 
see  my  feet  when  they  toin^h  the  road,  for  I  do  not 
rant  that  great  roaring  horse  to  get  there  before  I  do. 
)0  the  master  is  pleased,  aiul  always  takes  me.  How 
rould  you  like  to  go  fast  like  that  ?  "  said  Comet, 
jmiling  behind  a  bunch  of  grass. 

"  1  couldn't  go  fast  if  I  wanted  to,"  said  Tom,  hon- 
jstly.  "  I  tried  it  once,  when  a  plough-chain  fell  and 
)anged  my  heels.  They  called  it  running  away,  I 
)elieve.  My  !  how  warm  I  was.  Everything  looked 
red  as  the  sun  in  August,  and  a  warm  rain  storm 
rolled  off  my  coat  on  to  the  grass.  That  is  what  it 
seemed  to  me,  but  the  farmer  said,  '  Tom  is  too  fat  and 
soft.  See  how  he  sweats ! '  and  they  skimped  my 
linner  for  a  month." 

"Well,  then,  to  continue,"  said  Comet.  "We  ani- 
nals  haven't  been  shut  up  all  summer  except  in 
jtormy  weather  ;  the  bars  have  been  down  between  all 
the  best  pastures.  Even  Sausage,  the  sow,  and  her 
line  little  pigs,  have  been  out  walking  every  day,  and 
ler  sty  has  had  fresh  bedding  in  it  the  same  as  if  they 
iQVQ  Cow  or  Horse  People. 

"  We  had  so  much  freedom  that  I  thought  at  first 
|;hat  there  would  be  a  great  many  fights,  but  we  have 
^11  behaved  beautifully.  Even  Nanny  Baa,  the  stub- 
)orn  old  sheep,  and  Corney,  the  miscliievous  goat,  have 
lot  butted  any  one  or  fought  eacli  other. 

"  We've  had  a  chance  to  hear  about  the  world  and 
the  other  animals  in  it  too,  for  a  circus  has  been  camp- 
|ng  a  few  fields  further  down." 

"I  don't  like  a  circus,"  interrupted  Jerry,  decidedly. 
I'  There  are  always  a  lot  of  bad-smelling,  foreign  beasts 


6 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMElilCANS 


!  1  -i 
f.  'I 


\ 


in  cages  with  a  circus,  that  a  respectable  farm  four- 
foot  should  not  encourage.  Then  there  is  a  terrible 
noise,  —  worse  than  milk-pans  falling  off  the  fence,  — 
that  tliey  call  a  band  ;  it  makes  me  forget  myself  and 
dodge  and  dance  all  over  the  road.  Yes,  indeed,  I 
well  remember  tlie  lirst  circus  I  ever  heard.  It  came 
here  when  we  were  tive-year-olds.  Tom  and  1  upset  <i 
load  of  cabbages,  and  they  rolled  all  the  way  down 
Long  Hill  into  the  brook." 

"  There  were  no  foreign  wild  beasts  in  this  circus," 
said  Comet,  proud  of  his  knowledge.  "  I  put  my  head 
througli  the  fence  bars  and  had  a  fine  chance  to  talk 
to  some  of  the  liorses.  There  were  several  kinds  of 
Horse  Brothers  there  that  1  had  never  seen  before  ; 
different  even  from  the  long-eared  Donkey  and  Mule 
Hrotliers.*'  Here  Comet  stopped,  took  a  bite  of  grass 
and  a  drink  of  water,  waiting  to  see  if  Tom  and  Jerry 
were  interested. 

They  were,  and  as  Comet  looked  up  he  saw  that 
some  of  the  other  animals  were  coming  down  to  drink, 
—  Daisy,  the  finest  cow  in  tlie  licrd,  ami  Nanny  Baa, 
sauntering  all  ah)ne,  the  other  slieep  not  having  yet 
missed  lier,  wliile  Corney,  the  goat,  whose  wiiole  name 
was  Capricornus,  danced  about  on  a  rock,  ciiarging  at 
an  imaginary  enemy  in  the  sky. 

"  Wiiat  other  liorses  did  you  see?"  asked  Tom  and 
Jerry  together,  as  tlie  others  came  up. 

"'I'here  were  small  horses,  homtdy  and  thin,  with 
straight  necks  and  rolling  eyes.  Some  of  these  were 
brown,  and  some  all  mixed  brown  and  white.  Thcv 
ran  up  and  down  thci  Held,  clearing  the  old  division 
fence  at  a  jump.     These   were   called    Indian   I'onics, 


irm  four- 
i  terrible 
fence,  — 
yself  and 
indeed,  I 
It  came 
1  upset  a 
my  down 

is  circus," 
j  my  head 
3e  to  talk 
L  kinds  of 
1  before  ; 
and  Mule 
e  of  grass 
ind  Jerry 

saw  that 
to  drink, 
inny  Ban, 
iving  yet 
lole  name 
uirging  at 

Tom  an( 

bin,  will 
u!se  wert 
ic.  TIk') 
divisioi 
Ponies 


IN  THE  PASTURE 


and  men  they  called  Indians,  with  small  eyes  and  dark 
rusty  faces,  rode  on  them  for  exercise.  Beside  these 
there  were  some  others,  called  Burros,  with  longish 
ears,  who  did  not  seem  to  know  how  to  either  trot  or 
run,  and  some  of  the  small  horses  kept  jerking  and 
humping  up  their  backs,  so  that  the  men  could  not 
ride  them. 

"Who  told  you  all  these  names?"  asked  Tom, 
suspiciously. 

"•  There  was  an  old  horse  who  did  not  work  in  the 
circus,  but  only  helped  draw  wagons,  who  stayed  by 
the  fence  and  talked  to  me.  He  had  seen  a  great  deal 
of  life  in  his  day,  and  what  do  you  think  he  said  about 
those  strange  horses  ?  That  they  were  not  born  and 
raised  on  nice  farms  like  you  and  me  ;  that  they  came 
from  the  west  country  where  they  run  wild  until  they 
are  old  enough  to  work,  and  they  live  in  great  flocks  as 
the  (^rows  do  hereabouts.  Every  horse  has  a  mark  on 
his  side,  put  there  by  the  man  who  owns  him.  When 
tliey  are  young  they  have  fine  sport,  but  when  it  is 
time  for  them  to  work,  men  ride  after  them  on  swift 
horses  and  catch  them  by  throwing  a  rope  loop  over 
their  heads,  and  sometimes  this  hurts  them  very  much, 
and  tlicy  are  also  sorry  to  leave  their  friends. 

"Out  in  the  west  country  where  tliese  horses  lived, 
(lie  plains  are  full  of  fourfoots,  —  not  Horse  and  Cow 
IVople,  —  but  real  wild  fourfoots,  strange  as  any  of  the 
l'il('i»hants  or  Lions.  Tliere  are  more  kinds  of  them 
tlian  you  co\dd  ever  dream  of,  even  if  you  ate  a  whole 
hiislicl  of  oats  for  supper. 

"The  Horse  said  that  tliey  belong  to  older  American 
lainilies  tlian   any  of  us   farm  animals,  and  that  once 


II 


%  I 


\^ 


8 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


these  four-footed  Americans  and  the  Red  Indian 
Brothers,  who  lived  in  tents,  owned  all  the  country, 
and  there  were  no  real  House  People  or  farm  fourfoots 
here  at  all." 

"  That  must  have  been  a  long  time  ago,"  said  Jerry. 
"  I  remember  my  grandmother,  and  she  never  said  any- 
tliing  about  wild  people,  and  I  never  knew  about  any 
other  animals  but  ourselves."  ^,    • 

"Who  am  /,  pray?"  squealed  a  Squirrel,  scamper- 
ing along  the  fence.  "  How  ignorant  you  are  not  to 
know  that  I  behmg  to  a  vert/  old  family." 

"  You  don't  count,"  neighed  Jerry.  "  I  never  thought 
you  were  an  animal." 

"  Not  an  animal,  hey  ?  I  will  show  you  what  a  sharp- 
toothed  animal  1  am,  some  fine  day,  and  nibble  up  your 
dinner  when  you  are  asleep,"  and  the  Squirrel  jumped 
over  Jerry's  back,  and  ran  up  a  tree. 

"  My  friend  told  me,"  continued  Comet,  "  that  some 
of  those  wild  fourfoots  are  working  for  their  living  in 
this  very  circus.  They  are  quite  rare  now,  though 
they  used  to  be  as  plentiful  in  the  west  pastures  as 
ants  in  a  hill.  He  sliowed  me  some  of  these  beasts 
this  very  morning  when  they  were  being  led  down  to 
tlie  village." 

"  What  did  they  look  like  ?  "  ' 

"Sometiiing  like  bulls,  with  low  backs  and  great 
heavy  heads,  all  bushy  witli  thick  brown  wool.  My 
friend  said  tliey  are  called  liison  by  tlie  Wise  Men  ;  but 
in  tlie  circus  and  out  where  they  used  to  live,  every  one 
calls  them  huffalocs." 

"1  wonder  if  they  are  related  to  me  ?"  said  Daisy, 
who  had  joined  the  group. 


IN  THE  PASTURE 


9 


"They  are  not  as  handsome  as  you,  though  they 
might  helong  to  your  family,"  said  Comet,  politely. 

••'  Perhaps  I  may  have  some  wild  cousins,"  said 
Sausage,  rooting  up  the  turf.  "  I  wonder  what  they 
eat?" 

"  I  should  like  to  go  and  meet  my  wild  relations,  if 
I  have  any,"  said  Corney.  "  1  wonder  if  they  could 
beat  me  at  butting  and  sliding  down  hill  ?  " 

"  Humph,  it  is  very  strange  about  all  these  wild 
things,"  said  Jerry.  *' I  —  My,,  they  are  making  that 
bang  noise  again,  down  at  the  village  !  " 

"  That  is  the  band.  I  think  the  circus  is  over,"  said 
Comet. 

"  Which  Horse  Brother  dragged  the  people  down 
there,  and  who  went  ?  "  asked  Daisy,  who  was  always 
inquisitive. 

"  Tliey  all  went,  and  they  walked  with  their  own 
feet,  because  the  Doctor  knows  that  we  do  not  like 
smells  and  noises,"  said  Comet.  "  They  are  coming 
buck  up  the  hill  now.  Nat  is  following  'way  behind, 
carrying  something.  Ugh !  It  is  a  big  snake,  and  he 
has  it  by  the  tail.  I  hate  snakes  ;  they  look  up  so 
suddenly  out  of  the  grass  when  one  is  feeding,  and 
tlicy  always  seem  to  be  by  the  nicest  bunch  of  clover." 

"'  IVrliaps  the  people  will  stop  here  to  rest,  and  we 
may  hear  something  about  our  wild  brothers,"  said 
Daisy. 

"  I  think  Dodo  has  sugar  for  mc,"  said  Comet  to  Tom 
1111(1  Jerry.  "  1  will  droj)  a  pietic,  and  you  can  pick  it 
up,  and  see  how  you  like  it." 

''Comet  is  ([uitc  a  gentleman,  if  bis  ribs  do  show," 
nuittered  Tom  to  his  companion,  looking  pleased,  while 


10 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


the  other  animals  lingered  about  the  spring,  waiting  for 
the  House  People. 

"  Here  are  the  horses  that  I  haven't  seen  before  from 
the  grass  farm  ;  and  Comet,  too,  and  Daisy  !  "  cried 
Dodo,  climbing  over  the  fence.  "  Please  stop  a  bit, 
Uncle  Roy,  and  let  me  give  them  some  of  my  popcorn 
balls  ;  I'm  sxwe  they  will  like  them,  and  Corney  simply 
loves  peanuts." 

"What  did  I  tell  you?"  whispered  Comet  to  Tom, 
as  Dodo  chirped  for  hi;n  to  come  to  her. 


n 


i;.^ 


THE  ANIMAL  TREE 

kOME  up  on  the  fence  too,  please, 
uncle,"  coaxed  Dodo,  and  Dr. 
Hunter  climbed  over  the 
pasture  bars,  seating  him- 
self on  the  fence  in  answer  to 
her  request  to  '  stop  a  bit  while 
she  fed  the  animals.'  He  mo- 
tioned to  Hap,  who  was  rather 
tired  with  his  walk,  to  come 
beside  liim,  while  Nat  and  Dodo  divided  the  contents 
of  tlieir  pockets  into  little  heaps. 

"(Jive  the  popcorn  to  Daisy  and  the  horses,"  said 
Dodo.  '•'The  peanuts  are  for  Corney  ;  we  can  toss 
tiiein  uj),  and  see  him  hop  and  scramble  to  catch  tliem. 
It's  lots  of  fun.  Sausage  can  have  all  the  mixed 
criiuibs.  'cause  she  likes  grubby  tliiugs.  IMease,  Nat, 
won't  you  bury  your  snake,  or  hang  it  up,  (u*  some- 
tliing?  Whichever  way  I  look,  it  seems  to  be  too  near." 
"I'll  liang  it  up  on  the  tree,  because  I'm  going  to 
put  it  in  a  glass  jar  to  keep.  Daddy  has  gone  back 
to  the  village  to  buy  me  some  alcoliol  to  pour  on  it." 
"Tgli  I  what  do  you  want  it  for?  If  I  were  you, 
I'd  ratlier  liave  the  money  tlie  alcohol  costs  to  buy 
a  new  butterfly  net." 

11 


12 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


!lj  Ij'il 


' 


"  Uncle  Roy  says  it  is  as  fine  a  rattlesnake  as  he 
ever  saw.  That  is  why  he  bought  it  of  the  man  from 
the  mountain,  who  killed  it.  There  aren't  any  here- 
abouts now.  A  good  tiling,  too,  because  they  are 
biters ;  but  I  want  it  for  my  collection.  I  haven't 
many  reptiles,  you  know ;  only  a  garter  snake,  two 
lizards,  and  a  frog — whoa!  Tom,  eat  fair;  your 
mouth  is  twice  as  big  as  Comet's." 

"  How  queer  Daisy's  tongue  feels  —  it  tickles  my 
hand,"  said  Dodo.  "  She  licks  everything  into  her 
mouth,  but  the  horses  take  food  in  their  lips.  Uncle 
Roy,  please  come  down  here  and  see  how  queerly 
Daisy  eats,  and  oh,  my  !  she  hasn't  any  top  front 
teeth,  either.  Is  she  very  old  ?  Do  look  ;  her  jaws 
wiggle  as  if  she  was  chewing  gum  !  " 

*'  No,  little  girl ;  none  of  the  Cow  Family  have  any 
front  upper  teeth.  A  well-behaved  cow  sticks  out 
her  tongue  with  a  sidewise  motion  to  guide  the  grass 
into  her  moutli,  while  in  the  Horse  Family  the  habit 
is  to  seize  it  with  the  lips,  and  then  nip  it  between 
the  teeth." 

"Yes,  but,  uncle  I  "  cried  Nat,  jumping  liastily  over 
the  fence  to  dodge  Corney,  who  was  tired  of  eating 
peanuts  one  by  one,  and,  giving  a  sudden  butt,  had 
seized  bag  and  all ;  "  Uncle  Roy,  cows  are  ever  so  fond 
of  cliewing.  Tliey  eat  all  tlie  morning,  and  then  they 
go  under  the  trees  and  cliew,  chew,  cliew,  all  the  after- 
noon ;  but  horses  gobl)le  their  food  once  for  all." 

"Um  very  glad  yon  have  noticiMl  this,  Nat.  The 
cow  is  built  U[t()n  a  different  [dan  from  tlie  horse. 
The  horse  iins  a  cniiipiflc  set  of  up[)er  and  under 
teeth,  and  a  single  stomach  —  something  like  our  own 


)rings 


THE  AXUfAL    TREE 


13 


;  as  he 
,11  from 
y  liere- 
ley  are 
haven't 
ke,  two 
;    your 

:les  my 
ito  her 
Uncle 
queerly 
p  front 
er  jaws 

[\ve  any 
pks  out 
le  grass 
le  habit 
jetween 

y  over 

eating 

t,  had 

so  fond 

!ii  they 

after- 

Tho 
liorse. 

Mir  own 


{L-to  receive  the  food.  The  cow  has  four  stomachs. 
f^Vheii  she  eats,  the  food  goes  into  the  first  stomach, 
i\here  it  stays  a  while  to  grow  soft.  After  Daisy  lijis 
silled  this  first  stomach,  she  goes  to  rest  for  a  while, 
>rings  up  tlie  softened  food  into  her  mouth,  and  chews 
a<''aiu.  This  softened  food  is  called  the  '  cud.'  " 
''Oh,  now  I  know  what  Rod  meant,"  cried  Dodo, 
Jlii[)ping  her  hands,  ''when  he  said  the  cows  were 
lliewing  their  '  cud.'  They  were  lying  under  the  trees, 
^iid  didn't  seem  to  have  anytliing  near  them  to  eat. 
thoiiglit  cud  must  be  moss  or  something.  Do  yiiiy 
Ither  of  <»ur  animals  beside  cows  have  several  stoiii- 
ichs  and  chew  cud  ?  " 

Vcs,  all  the  animals  that  belong  to  the  Meat  Fam- 
ly  :   Sheep  and  (ioats.,  and,  among  their  wild  Ameri- 
lu  brothers,  the  Deer  and  the  very  Ihift'alo  that  you 
^iw  at  the  show  this  afternoon." 
"  Were    those    strange    beasts    any  relations    of   our 
irm  animals?"  asked  the  children  in  one  breath. 
'•  Were  our   farm  animals  once  wild   like    the    Buf- 
ilocs,  and    did   they  live  far  out  West?     Who   first 
night  them  and  made  them  tame?"    gabbled    Dodo, 
dy  stopping  when  her  breath  failed. 

Our  farm  animals  were  never,  in  the  true  sense, 
^itives  of  this  country.  In  the  far  back  days,  before 
le  pale-faced  voyagers  came  to  these  shores,  the  Red 
|r()thers  had  no  horses  to  carry  them,  nor  cows  to  give 
U'ln  milk.  They  followed  the  war-[);ith  j^iiid  game- 
[ail  (111  foot,  and  their  ('lothing  and  tent  homes  were 
liule  of  the  sk'.ns  of  the  lieasts  they  took  with  bow, 
^row,  and  spear.  'J'ime  was  when  they  liad  not  even 
)ears  and  arrows. 


14 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


1  I 


"  When  the  pale-faced  settlers  came  to  America  they 
brought  the  useful  animals  from  their  old  homes  witli 
them :  pigs,  sheep,  horses,  goats,  cows,  dogs,  cats, 
etc.,  —  so  though  these  have  lived  here  as  the  people 
have,  long  enough  to  be  citizens,  they  are  not  native 
or  indigenous  Americans  an}'^  more  than  we  ourselves. 
That  distinction  belongs  to  the  Indian,  Peccary,  Buffalo. 
Musk  Ox,  Mountain  Goat,  Bighorn,  Wolf,  and  Wild- 
cat, who  are  the  wild  cousins  of  House  People  and 
their  farm  fourfoots.  The  horse  alone  has  no  livimj 
wild  cousin  here,  though  there  were  horses  in  America 
ages  ago." 

"  Then  those  horses  that  the  Indians  rode  at  the 
show,  who  hopped  around  so,  weren't  really  wild  at 
all,"  said  Nat,  with  a  look  of  great  disai)pointment, 
"  They  seemed  really,  truly  wild,  and  hoiv  the  Indians 
stuck  on  and  dodged  and  iired  their  guns  !  " 

"  They  are  wild  in  the  sense  that  they  were  born  on 
the  open  prairie  and  lived  in  vast  herds,  but  they  are 
the  great-grandchildren  of  tame  horses.  In  the  south- 
west, as  well  as  in  Soutli  America,  vast  herds  of  these 
horses,  descended  from  those  brought  in  by  the  Span- 
ish, roamed  at  large.  From  time  to  time  the  Indian^ 
dashed  into  the  troops  and  lassoed  those  that  they  de- 
sired and  rode  them  as  we  saw  the  Indians  do  this 
afternoon,  but  they  are  not  true  four-footed  AmericiUb 
like  that  little  ( ■hipmunk  over  there,  who  is  stealing  :i 
few  peannjts  that  C'orney  overlooked,  or  like  the  sly. 
fat  Woodchucks  that  we  are  trying  to  trap  in  llit 
orchard." 

"Please,  Uncle   Koy,  can  Dodo  and  T  put  halters  ni 
Tom  and  Jerry  and  see  if  we  can  ride  tliem  round  tlit 


ield  wit 

ip  at  til 

IJop  of  hi 

'Vou 

I'm  afrai 

'^ou  will 

lod  to  1) 

In   a 

blanket  ( 

isisted  1 

Now. 

)nld  i)]a 

hiitate  a 

(ery  (|uie 

Nat  it 

iu\  he  c 

lave  a  lit 

the  spi 

*'I  thin 

Kod  i-i 

It,  too,  ] 

fO]),     plcil 

?.side  lu'i 
''  A  circ 
fs  face,  i 
hitch  on 
"  Farm 
[nisei f. 
"I'm  al 
\v  iniiiui 
I'll!   aiiiii 
|ih1  of  c(| 


THE  ANIMAL    TREE 


15 


rica  they 
mes  with 
>gs,   cats, 
le  peoplt 
ot  native 
)urselves. 
r,  Buffalo. 
,nd  Wikl- 
Bople  and 
no  livinij 
1  America 

de  at  tlu' 
y  wild  at 
iointuieut. 
lie  Indians 

e  born  oii| 
they  are 
he  south- 
s  of  thest 
the  Span- 
le  Indiaih 
they  de- 
US  do  tins' 
Vmeric'an> 
stealing  a 
e  the  sly. 
ap  in  till 

halters  oi 
round  tin 


ield  without  any  saddles  ?  "  said  Nat,  looking  fearlessly 
ip  at  the  big  horses,  whose  mouths  barely  touched  the 
lop  of  his  head. 

You  can  try,  if  you  like,"  laughed  the  Doctor,  "  but 
I'm  afraid  it  will  be  too  hard  travelling  for  Dodo.  No, 
rou  will  risk  a  bumping  ?  Very  well,  then,  but  tell 
i()(l  to  bring  l)lankets  and  surcingles." 

In  a  few  minutes  Rod  came,  strapped  a  folded 
blanket  on  each  horse,  and  gave  Nat  Jerry's  halter,  but 
isisted  upon  keeping  hold  of  Tom. 
"  Now,  if  I  only  had  sometliing  to  shoot  with,  we 
[ould  play  circus.  Hoo-oo-ooh  I  "  cried  Nat,  trying  to 
hiitate  an  Indian  cry,  at  which  sound  Jerry  galloped 
[ery  (piietly  down  the  pasture,  switching  his  tail,  lint 
Nat  it  seemed  as  if  he  was  seated  on  an  earthquake, 
iiid  he  clutched  Jerry's  mane,  whereupon  the  horse 
ive  a  little  kick  of  surprise  and  cantered  heavily  back 
the  si)ring. 

"I  think  T-o-m  is  falling  to  pieces,"  chattered  Dodo, 

Rod  ran  him  round  tlie  pasture.     "He  —  is  —  so  — 

lit,  too,  my  legs  can't  bend  down;  — I  —  guess   I'll 

[()]),  please,"  and  Rod  swung  her  down  to*  the  wall 

jside  her  uncle. 

"  A  circus  isn't  as  easy  as  it  looks,"  said  Nat,  wiping 
Is  face,  and  Rap  lauglied  heartily  and  pounded  his 
hitch  on  the  fence. 

"•  Farm  horses  are  not  saddle  liorses,"  said  Comet  to 
Imself. 
''  I'm  all  mixed  up  about  animals,"  said  Dodo  in  a 
Iav  iniiuites  when  she  liad  caught  her  breath.  "Our 
Irni  animals  aren't  real  Americans,  yet  Daisy  is  a 
Ind  of  cousin  of  the  wild  Buffalo,  because  she  has  no 


16 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I 


upper  front  teeth  and  chews  a  cud.  Birds  seem  so 
much  easier  to  understand.  Birds  are  animals  with  a 
backbone,  a  beak  for  a  mouth,  and  two  legs.  Thej 
wear  feathers  and  lay  eggs.  But  these  others  are 
different  in  their  mouths  and  stomachs  and  feet,  and 
some  have  horns  and  some  don't.  Some  have  little 
tails  like  Corney,  and  some  long  hairy  tails  like  the 
horses,  and  oh,  Uncle  ^Roy^  that  snake  there  is  all  tail ! 

"  Olive  says  bugs,  and  beetles,  and  flies,  are  animals, 
too,  and  beetles  are  crusty,  and  caterpillars  are  squashy, 
and  flies  are  buzzy,  and  I'm  sure  I  never  can  tell  win 
is  who.  Bii'ds  look  something  alike,  even  when  the; 
are  as  different  as  a  Hummingbird  and  a  Duck;  but  I  | 
cant  understand  how  all  the  other  animals  are  re 
lated." 

"•  Not  so  fast,  dearie,"  said  the  Doctor,  laughing  at  he: 
inquiries  until  the  tears  ran  down  his  cheeks.  "Tlit 
differences  and  the  relationships  of  these  animals  aii 
no  harder  to  remendjer  than  they  are  among  the  l)ir(]s 
You  know  that  with  them  their  beaks  and  feet  weii 
arranged  to  suit  their  needs.  Have  you  forgotten  liov  | 
we  classified  the  birds,  and  the  little  table  of  the  Aniinii 
Kingdom  that  you  wrote  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Nat,  hesitating  ;  "  that  is,  1  did  know 
but  I've  forgotten  most  of  it." 

"I  remember,"  said  J{ap,  "that  you  said  classifyiii, 
was  to  put  the  animals  together  that  were  the  neare> 
alike,  and  the  two  great  divisions  of  the  Animal  Km 
dom  were  animals  without  backbones  and  animals  wit 
them." 

"  Olive  says   my  sponge  is  an  animal,"  said  Dod  | 
doubtfully.     "  Surely  it  can't  have  any  backbone,  fi 


lif  it  di( 

[of  2>ric] 
[crumple 
"I  m 
[chief  di 
jpausing 
jyou  seb 
trunk  ai 
"  Yes, 
nveetest 
'ery  liar 
"  I  rei 
want 
;"ro\\'s. 
whieli  if- 
Into  larg 
•ranches 
nd  in  lil 

"The 

n  which 

y  side, 

s  difficu 

ninial  ti 

le  first 

nvertebi 

in  a  little 

"  Are 

)o(l(). 

"  Yes, 
raiK.'h,  u 
lithful  f( 
bout  eve 


THE  ANIMAL   THEE 


17 


seem  sol 
lis  with  H 
s.     They 
thers   are 

feet,  and 
ave  little 
i  like  the 
5  all  tail ! 
e  animals, 
e  squashy, 
n  tell  will 
tvhen  thev 
ck ;  but  1 
Is   are   n- 

liing  at  he;  , 
ks.  "Tilt 
Luimals  ait 
the  birds 
feet  wei't 
rotten  iiov 
he  Aninia 

(lid  know 

classifyiii. 
;he  neai'o> 
inial  Kins 
limals  wit 

said  Dod' 
ckbone,  f* 


lif  it  did  it  would  scratch  my  face  ;  but  then  it  was  full 
of  prickles  when  it  was  new,  perhaps  its  backbone  was 
crumpled  up  !  " 

"'  I  nub  I  try  to  make  this  Animal  Kingdom  and  its 

chief  divisions   more   clear  to  you,''   said  the  Doctor, 

i)ausing  a  minute  as  he  looked  across  the  pasture.     "Do 

ou  scb  i^hat  great  chestnut  tree  yonder,  with  tlie  thick 

nnik  and  wide-spreading  brandies  ?  "' 

"  Yes,  indeed,''  said  liap,  "  and  it  bears  the  fattest, 

weetest  nuts  of  any  tree  hereabouts  ;   but  it  takes  a 

ery  hard  frost  to  open  them." 

"  1  remember  how  good  the  nuts  used  to  be,  but  now 

Avant   you  all  to  notice  the  way  in  which   the  tree 

rows.     Above  ground  there  is  ii  thick  straight  })art 

vhich   is   called    the    trunk ;     then    this    soon    divides 

nto  large  branches.     A  little  furtlier   up  these  thick 

)ranches  separate  into  smaller  branches  yet,  until  they 

lid  in  little  slender  twigs. 

'•The  Animal  Kingdom  is  like  this  tree  in  the  way 
n  which  tlie  different  members  all  are  developed  side 
y  side,  interlacing  and  depending  upon  each  other.  It 
s  difficult  to  tell  some  of  tlie  lowest  branches  of  the 
niinal  tree  from  plants:  as  none  of  these  animals  of 
lie  first  branches  have  any  backbones,  they  are  called 
nvertebrates,  and  their  inside  parts  are  held  together 
n  a  little  tube.'' 
"Are  birds  on  one  of  the  high  branches?"   asked 

)0(1(). 

"  Yes,  one  of  the  very  highest,  next  to  the  great 
iam;li,  where  man  himself  sits,  surrounded  by  ull  liis 
aithful  four-footed  friends,  just  as  he  is  when  he  walks 
bout  every  day." 


18 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMEllWANH 


m^ 


If 
■  I* 


"  Do  House  People  iintl  fourfoots  belong  on  tlie  same 
great  braiieli?"  said  Kap,  looking  puzzled.  "What  is 
it  called,  please?" 

"  It  is  the  Manniial  branch,  the  highest  of  all,  and  it 
has  so  many  little  branchlets  and  twigs  that  it  is  large 
enough  to  be  a  tree  all  by  itself." 

"  Exactly  hoiv  are  the  other  Mammals  like  us,  and 
what  does  biannual  mean?  Do  they  all  have  Avarm  red 
blood  like  ours?"  asked  Dodo,  who  was  celebrated  for 
cutting  her  lingers. 

"  Tiiey  all  have  warm  red  blood,  but  so  have  birds : 
vhoro  are  other  differences  that  you  will  learn  later. 
The  one  thing  that  makes  them  Mannnals  is  that  tliuv 
suckle  their  young  with  milk." 

"M  —  mannnals  ;  m  —  milk,"  sang  Dodo.  "Why. 
that  's  as  easy  to  remember  as  ^  liilly  Button  bought  ii 
buttered  biscuit ' !  Please  tell  us  the  names  of  sonit 
nearby  Mammals,  Uncle  Hoy." 

"All  the  farm  and  lumse  fourfoots  are  Mannnals; 
also  the  wihl  Deer,  Wolves,  Poxes,  Kats,  Mice,  S([uir- 
rels,  Moles,  Skunks,  Weasels,  and  VVoodchucks,  besidt 
many  others  you  do  not  know  even  by  name." 

"So  all  those  nuisance  animals  are  ^himmals  too," 
said  Dodo,  meditatively. 

"Nuisance  animals!  Which  are  those?"  asknl 
Kap. 

" 'I'he  naughty,  bothersome  ones  that  eat  things  ami 
bito  holes  in  the  house,  and  dig  up  the  orchard,  iimi 
smell,  oh,  so  bad  !  Why,  iJiip,  don't  yon  nMuemlu'i 
the  evening  we  thougiit  thcn^  was  a.  black  and  whiti 
rooster  by  the  orchard  wall,  and  (^uick  and  I  tried  li 
catch  it,  and  it  turned  out  to  be  a  Skuidv  ''     'I'hcn  iii\ 


rii 


THE  ANIMAL   TREE 


19 


clotlies  had  to  be  boiled  so  hard  they  were  no  more  use, 
and  Quick  tried  to  get  away  from  himself  for  almost 
I  two  weeks." 

''  Oh,  yes,  I  do.     Mammals  must  have  a  great  many 
I  shapes,  Doctor,'"'  continued  Rap,  thoughtfully.     "How 
are   they    made    into    families?  —  the    same    vray    as 
Ibirds?" 

'•''Xw  very  much  the  same  way.  To-night,  after  sup- 
Iper,  I  will  draw  you  a  picture  of  a  part  of  this  wonder- 
ful animal  tree,  and  tell  you  the  names  of  some  of  its 
branches,  and  perhaps  you  will  remember  a  few  of  them. 
1  do  not  wish  to  bother  you  with  long  words,  but  there 
arc  a  few  that  you  must  learn. 

"The  history  of  this  animal  tree  is  the  most  inter- 
esting story  in  the  world,  and  the  Wise  Men  call  it 
Zoology,    after    two     (ireek    words    that     mean    the 
liistory  of  animal  life.'" 
"Then  that  is  the  reason  why  an  out-door  menag- 
erie is  called  a  Zo-o-logical  (warden,"  said  Nat,  stum- 
bling a  tritie  over  the  word.     "  Daddy  was  reading  to 
motiier  about  such  a  beautiful  garden  for  wild  aninuds 
that  is  going  to  be  made  near  New  York,  —  the  very 
biggest  in  the  world,  —  so  that  everyone  in  America 
jean  see   liow   the   animals   live.      Perhaps  we  can  go 
tiicrc  some  day  and  see  all  the  Mammals." 

"Daisy  gives  milk,  so  1  am  very  sure  1  know  one 
Maiuinal  anyway,"  said  Dodo,  who  was  growing  a  little 
tirtMl.  "Oil  I  oh!"  she  cried,  suddenly  jumping  off 
the  i'ence.  "The  sini  is  going  down  i)op.  I  never 
noticed  it,  and  l{<)(l  said  I  might  help  milk  to-night. 
He's  taking  the  cows  in  now.  Won't  you  come  and 
sec  nif  do  it,  I'ncle  lloy  ?  " 


20 


FO  U  It- FOOT  ED  A  MKU  WANS 


"You  help  milk?"  laughed  Nut.  "  Wlio  tauj,^lit 
you  how  ?  " 

"  Rod  ;  I've  had  four  lessons,  and  I  can  milk  almost 
a  (piai't.  Then  my  hands  grow  all  weak  and  shaky, 
and  Uod  says  it's  enough  for  once,  both  for  me  and  for 
the  cow.     Daisy  is  the  only  one  that  will  let  me." 

"Poor,  patient  Daisy,"  laughed  the  Doctor.  "To 
be  sure  we  will  come  and  see  this  famous  milkmaid." 

Dodo  led  the  way  to  the  cow  barn,  where  each  cow 
had  a  clean  stall  marked  with  her  name.  Then  she 
tied  a  (pieer  sort  of  apron  round  iier  waist,  made,  like 
Rod's,  out  of  a  meal  sack,  hunted  for  a  small  stool,  also 
like  Rod's,  and  i)repared  in  a  very  businesslike  man- 
ner to  wash  off  Daisy's  bag  with  a  sponge  and  soiiu' 
clean  water. 

"  Bravo  I  Rravo  I  "  cried  the  Doctor.  "My  little 
farmer  has  already  learned  that  everything  about  milk, 
from  the  animal  to  the  pans,  should  be  very  clean." 

"  Zig-zig-zig-zig."  said  the  milk,  spattering  on  the 
bottom  of  the  pail.  In  a  few  minutes  the  spatteriiiL; 
stopped. 

"Now  it's  beginning  to  j)urr  like  a  cat,"  explained 
Dodo.  "  It  does  that  whtm  the  milk  l)egins  to  lill  u[»  ;i 
little." 

Dodo  kept  bravely  at  it  until  her  lingers,  now  ri'(l 
and  tired,  had  coaxed  about  a  (piart  from  Daisy. 

"That  will  go  for  to-night,"  she  said,  "•  though  I'm 
sure  I  milked  more  last  time.  I'm  dreadfully  thirsty  ; 
suppose  we  drink  this  now,  Incle  \U)\.  There's  ;i 
glass  by  the  well,  Nat,"  —and  the  milk  rapidly 
disappeared. 

"  iM  —  mammals;   m  —  milk,"  sang    Dodo,  skippiiii,' 


head  to 
fter  the 
"  I  wit- 
go  hoi 
"Jiut 
lovely 
[raw  a  t 
it  her  rh 
Unci 
Japi)y  di 
)asting 
iraw  tilt 

Mlg  . 
1  rec 

kassing  <i 
'•  Krost 
Frost  — 

Saturday 

"How 

Ironi  his 
htor  clos( 
)i  clean 
Reside, 
^here  yo 
I  thi 
Worse's  f( 
II to  his 


THE  ANIMAL    THEE 


21 


J   tail  gilt 


k  almost 
(I  shaky, 
3  and  for 
le." 

)r.  "  To 
maid." 
3aclj  cow 
rheii  .slie 
lade,  like 
tool,  also 
iko  maii- 
Liid   soniL' 

My  little 
jut  milk, 
Dan." 

L*"  on  the 
|)iitt('i'iMi,' 

xplnincd 
(ill  n[>  a 

now  I'imI 

)Ugli   I'm 

lliirsty  : 

MuMv's   il 

I'lipidly 


ahead  toward  the  house,  as  the  short  twilight  hurried 
liter  the  sun. 

"  1  wish  the  days  were  longer,"  sighed  Kap,  turning 

go  home. 

''  J5ut  evening  with  a  wood  fire  in  the  wonder  room 

lovely,"  sang  Dodo,  "and  to-night  uncle  he,  will 
[raw  a  tree,"  —  she  sang;  then  stopped  and  laughed 
[t  her  rhyme. 

"  Uncle    Hoy,"   she   whispered,    "  it's    been    such    a 

[appy  day,  can    we   have    iva|)    to   help  finish    off    hy 

justing   crackers   in   the  wonder  room,  and  see   you 

Iraw  tlie  animal  tree?     Yes?     I'll  give  you  a  bear's 

lug  . 

I  reckon  there  will  be  a  frost  to-night,"  said  Rod, 
lassing  on  his  way  to  the  house  with  the  milk-pail. 

'•  Frost  I "    shouted    Nat,   dancing    round    in    glee. 

I^j-ost  —  chestnuts,    llap,  —  and    to-morrow    will    be 

hi  1  f  " 

Saturday  . 

m  *  *  *  * 

"How  do  yon  like  this?"  said  Comet,  looking  up 
Irom  his  oats  over  to  Tom  and  .lerry,  as  the  stable 
ioor  closed  with  a  click.  "  Hox  stalls  and  two  bundles 
if  clean  straw  ai)iei;e,  and  warm  bran  mash  for  you 
Icsidc.  Did  y«m  ever  have  anything  as  nice  as  this 
Awrv  you  were  this  sinnmcr?" 

"I  think  the  House  I'eople  here  understand  a 
Worse's  feelings,"  answered  .lerry,  [)lunging  his  nose 
l)t(>  his  sMi>[icr. 


skippii 


IL' 


:M 


III 


WAI<FLi:S   AND   A    WALK 


AM  MY  BUN  cooked  a  delicious 

8Ui)per    for    the    children    that 

1^      night,  for  the  circus  had  put 

//IB   ""/■ht  ^\'^^ M-t    ^^^^'  ^'^  tixtra  good  humor. 

^\s  it  was  the  first  of  tlit 
really  cool  evenings,  she  sur- 
prised tliem  witii  liot  cot*o;i 
in  the  phice  of  their  usual  I 
glasses  of  milk,  and  tliere  was 
cream  toast,  and  cold  cliickeii 
and  tongue  sliced  daintily  together. 

The  children  luid  famous  appetites,  and  Mr.  lilaki' 
said  he  expected  hy  spring  tliey  would  all  be  as  fat  as 
Sausage  herself. 

"  Not  if  you  carry  out  all  the  plans  I  have  for  mak- 
ing you  work  and  keeping  you  out-ol'-(hK)rs,'"  said  tla 
Doctor. 

"  What  ?  What  are  we  going  to  do  ?  Is  there  a  sur- 
prise ?"  asked  I)o(h)  eagerly,  reluctantly  setting  down 
Iicr  teacup.  "School  takes  so  much  time  and  the  rest 
of  it  is  nearly  all  dark.     Oh  I    I  snu'll  walllcs  ! "" 

"  VV'iiat  is  lu'arly  all  dark,  —  the  school,  or  the  tiuu', 
or  the  walllcs?"  asked  the  Doctor,  as  soon  as  the  laugli. 
caused  by  Dodo's  mixed-U[)  sentences,  had  stopped. 

22 


WAFFLJ^iS  AND  A    WALK 


23 


I  delicious: 
:lreii    that 
IS  had  put 
minor, 
rst  of  till'  I 
;s,  she  sur- 
hot  coi'oa 
lieir  iisiiiil 
tliere  m  ib 
Id  chicken 

Mr.  lihvkf 
as  fat  as  | 

i  for  mills- 
said  till  I 

lere  a  slu- 
ing down 
id  tlie  rest 

(lie  tiiiu'. 
the  lant,'!!. 
pped. 


"  I  mean  that  night  comes  nowachiys  very  soon  after 

^e  come  home  from  school.     Why  are  the  days  so  short 

In  winter,  Uncle   Koy,  just  when  we  need  the  sun  to 

Lvarm  ns,  and  so  long  and  hot  in  summer  when  we 

tvant  to  be  cool?" 

''  Why,  it's  the  other  way  round,"  said  Rap  ;  "  it  is 
)ecause  the  sun  stays  up  so  long  in  spring  and  sum- 
ner  that  the  days  are  warm,  and  because  it  comes  so 
[ate,  and  hurries  to  bed,  that  the  days  are  cold." 

'  But  ivhy  does  the  sun  stay  longer  st)me  times  tlian 
)tliers?     Wliy  need  the  days  ever  be  so  very  short?" 

"  Your  supper  would  grow  cold  if  I  stopped  to 
explain,"  said  the  Dotttor.  "Some  day  we  must  make 
)iirsclves  into  a  class  in  astronomy  and  learn  how 
the  sun,  nu)on,  and  stars  all  go  bowling  about  in 
the  skv,  and  how  the  old  earth  looked  when  she  was 


'oung. 


''Tliere  is  the  moon  now.  Oh,  how  fat  it  is  to- 
iiiglit,"  said  Dodo,  looking  toward  a  window  where  the 
•urtaius  had  not  been  drawn . 

'The  hunter's  moon,"  said  Mr.  lUake,  "and  many  a 
food  tiuie  I've  had  by  tlie  liglit  of  it." 

"Why  is  it  called  hunter's  moon,  daddy,"  asked 
Dodo,  "and  wliat  did  you  do  with  the  light  of  it?" 

'It  is  the  moon  that  conies  in  October  when  all  the 
fiiiiic  birds  and  wild  food  and  fur  beasts  are  through 
I'liisiiig  (heir  families,  and  it  is  fair  for  House  I'eople 
|kvlio  need  fur  or  food  to  go  and  hunt  them." 

"Did  you  ever  need  food  and  fur,  daddy?"  per- 
jislcd   Dodo. 

'Yes,  sometimes  I  really  <lid  ;  and  should  have 
jturved  except  for  my  gun  and  what  it  brought  me; 


I 


p\ 


24 


FOUR-FOOTED   AMEIiU'ANS 


ili 


1*1 


and  soineiiiiies  perliiips  I  thou(jht  I  did,"  said  Mr.  JJlakc, 
looking  at  the  Doctor,  who  was  shaking  with  L^iughter. 

"•  Did  yon  ever  shoot  any  tiling  just  to  see  if  3^011 
could  hit  it  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  Yes  ;  I'm  afraid  1  did  often,  before  I  had  travelled 
over  the  wihl  west  country  and  learned  for  myself  that 
shooting  food  and  fur  beasts  to  'see  wliat  you  can  hit,' 
is  making  this  wonderful  land  of  ours  as  bare  of  four- 
footed  things  as  it  will  be  of  birds." 

"Say,  Mis'  Cherry,  can  de  young  uns  hab  a  spoon  0' 
jam 'long  o'  dere  watHes  ?  *'  asked  Mammy  IJuji  in  what 
was  meant  to  be  a  whisper,  p«)pl)iug  her  head  in  at  the 
door. 

"J'jn  al'raid  not,  to-night,  mammy,"  said  Mrs.  Blake, 
whose  girlish  name  of  Clierry,  mammy  still  used. 
"  We  should  have  tiie  children  dreaming  of  IJatt'aloes 
and  Indians  and  rolling  out  of  bed.  Waftles  are  quite 
enough." 

"But  Mammy  Bun's  waffles  are  such  well-behaved 
things  that  tiiey  never  hurt  anybody,"  said  Olive. 

"Yes,"  echoed  Dodo,  "  mammy  says  it's  all  in  the 
beating  uj)  ;  if  you  beat  watlles  ever  so  liard  when 
you're  making  them,  they'll  never  talk  back  after  you 
eat  them.  I  kiujw  sttmething  that  does  talk  back, 
though  —  it's  turnips  if  you  eat  tliem  raw  like  a])ples, 
and  cliew  rather  (piick  and  then  drink  water.  Oh,  it 
was  dreadful  I  " 

"  So,  missy  has  l)een  hjiving  indigestion,  lias  she?" 
laughed  tiie   Doctor. 

"  Yes  ;  if  that  name  means  that  inside  your  cliest  is 
too  big  for  your  skin.  What  makes  indigestion,  Uncle 
Hoy?" 


WAFFLES  AND  A    WALK 


25 


••  Indigestion  comes  when  the  food  you  eat  is  not  of 
tli(!  light  kind  or  (quality  for  your  stomach  mill  to  turn 
into  good  flesh  and  blood.  Then  it  stays  in  the  mill, 
swirling  up,  growing  stale  and  sour,  choking  up  the 
little  wheels,  and  souring  the  wheel  grease  that  helps 
tlicin  move,  causing  pain  and  sickness,  until  it  is  turned 
out  in  some  way.  That  is  the  reason  why  we  should 
1)0  careful  what  we  put  into  the  mill. 

'•  To  make  sure  that  manuny's  waffles  do  not  grumble, 
sn[)[)ose  we  all  take  a  little  walk  down  the  road  before 
we  go  into  the  wonder  room  to  draw  the  animal  tree. 
"Come,  C 'berry,"  said  the  Doctor,  drawing  Mrs.  IJlake's 
luuid  through  his  arm,  "  you,  too.  I'm  not  going  to 
have  you  stay  in  the  house  all  the  time.  We  need  you, 
luid  you  need  the  fresh  air  to  give  you  back  the  red 
t'lu'cks  that  gave  you  your  pet  name.  Olive,  dear, 
[(lease  get  your  aunt's  warm  wra[)  —  never  mind  gloves ; 
here  is  a  coat-pocket  for  each  hand,"  and  the  proces- 
sion stepped  out  into  the  bright  moon  patli. 

"There  will  be  no  frost  until  this  wind  dies  down," 
said  Mr.  lUake. 

"  Wliat  nice  clean  shadows  the  trees  make,"  said 
Olive,  after  they  had  walked  in  silence  down  a  lane  that 
led  from  the  turnpike  toward  the  pastures  and  spring. 

"  Hush  I  what  was  that  ?  " 

''  A   bird,  maybe,  that  was  sleepy  and   fell  off   its 

[KTcil. 

"  No,  a  Flying  Squirrel,"  whisi)ered  the  Doctor. 
"There  it  goes  I  "  and  on  looking  u[)  they  saw  a  dark 
object,  a  little  larger  than  a  ("hipnuudc,  half  spring, 
half  drop  from  a  birch  tree  on  one  side  of  the  lane  to 
a  maple  ou  the  opposite  side. 


26 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


\  Ij 


III 


"Can  Squirrels  tly  ?     I  thought  only  birds  could  doi 
that,"  whispered  Dodo,  awe-struck. 

"  Look  yonder,  but  keep  very  still,"  said  AI  r.  Blake, ! 
holding  back  some  branches  that  hid  the  view  of  the 
spring. 

"It  is  a  little  dog  drinking,"  said  Nat.  "What  a 
bushy  tail  he  has.  See,  he  is  going  over  toward  the 
barns  ;  perhaps  he  is  a  friend  of  Quick,  or  Mr.  Wolf/" 

"  No,  it  is  a  Fox,  aud  he  is  going  to  see  where  the 
chickens  live." 

"  A  Fox  !  "  screamed  Dodo,  forgetting  the  need  for 
silence.  "  A  real  wild  animal  I  Oh,  uncle,  do  let  us 
catch  it  I  " 

"  I  very  much  wish  you  would,"  said  the  Doctor, 
as  the  Fox  raised  one  paw,  sniffed  the  air,  and  disap- 
peared like  .magic  between  some  low  bushes. 

"  He  is  the  most  cunning  of  our  beasts,  and  if  the 
wind  had  been  the  other  way,  he  would  not  have  given 
us  even  this  peep  at  him." 

"  What  difference  does  the  wind  make  ?  "  asked  Nat. 
"  Is  he  afraid  of  it  ?  " 

"I  know,"  said  Kap  ;  "for  before  my  leg  was  hurt 
I  went  often  with  the  miller  and  his  dog  to  hunt  Foxes 
that  stole  his  turkeys.  Little  wild  beasts  look  for 
food  mostly  at  night,  or  late  in  the  afternoon,  or  early 
in  the  nujnung,  when  it  isn't  so  easy  to  see,  so  they  use 
their  smeller  to  tell  them  a  great  many  things  that 
the}'"  can't  see  with  their  eyes.  rhey  can  smell  so  well 
that  if  the  wind  was  blowing  from  us  to  them  they 
would  know  we  are  here  and  would  run  away." 

"  That  is  right,  my  lad,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  The 
wild  beasts  have  a  much  keener  sense  of  smell  and 


WAFFLES  AND  A    WALK 


27 


hioiiriiig  tlmii  we  House   Peoi)le,  and  you  will  do  well 
lAvhcii  you  wish  to  watch  even  a  Squirrel  to  keep  from 
sK'i'ping  on  a  dry  leaf  and  to  see  which  way  the  wind 
IjIows."" 

"Oidy  think,  we've  seen  a  real  wild  animal,"  chuckled 
Dodo  to  Xat. 

"  I've  seen  a  Coon  and  a  ALuskrat  and  a  Mink,"  said 
Hap,  '^  besides  Foxes  and  Squirrels." 

"I  know  what  Mink  is,"  said  Dodo;  "it's  nice 
brown  fur,  and  I  have  some  of  it  on  my  winter  coat. 

'•  Tncle  Hoy  is  going  to  take  us  to  the  old  log  camp  in 
the  Owl  woods  some  day,  and  there  are  fur  beasts  up 
around  there,  he  says." 

"•  Daddy  has  been  all  about  the  wild  west  country  on 
business,  and  he  has  seen  dreadful  fierce,  wild  animals, 
and  he  is  going  to  tell  us  about  them  by  and  by.  You 
know  daddy  goes  round  to  find  out  about  the  country 
and  look  for  mines  tliat  fire  hidden  in  the  ground," 
explained  Nat  to  Hap,  "and  that's  why  we  haven't  seen 
much  of  him  for  a  long  time.  You  see  mines  are  often 
in  very  savage  places,  and  now  daddy  is  staying  here 
tliis  winter  to  write  down  all  he  has  seen  and  draw 
plans  for  people  to  work  by  in  the  spring." 

"Oh,  then  your  father  is  a  miner,"  said  Hap  ;  "I've 
read  about  them." 

"No,  a  miner  is  the  man  that  digs  with  a  pick  and 
shovel ;  daddy  is  the  one  who  digs  with  his  brain  and 
tells  the  miner  how  to  work  st)  that  the  earth  won't 
fall  in  on  him,  and  how  to  cut  away  tlie  rock  and  get 
to  the  treasure.  Daddy  is  what  they  cull  a  Alining 
Knt>ineer  I  "  and  Nat  sto])pcd  suddenly,  as  if  tlie  two 
big  words  were  too  much  for  him. 


II M-      ^ 


28 


FOUlt-FOOlKD  A3IEHICANS 


m 


l!ii|i! 


m 


"  Some  day  I  suppose  you  will  go  with  him  and  sei 
all   these   things.     It  is  nice  to  have  two  legs,"  siiid  ^ 
Rap,  half  sadly,  looking  at  his  crutch. 

"Never  niinil  ;  we  will  be  partners.  /  will  go  out  I 
and  hunt,  and  i/ou  shall  write  the  book  about  it  the  wav  I 
uncle  does,  for  1  don't  like  to  write." 

"  I  do,"  said  Rap,  cheering  up  ;  "  that  will  be  splen- 
did." 

"  Don't  try  to  walk  through  the  fence,"  said  Olive. 

Then  tliR  children  found  that  they  had  been  so  busy  I 
talking  that  they  did  not  realize  they  were  walking;  'M 
back  toward  the  farm,  until  they  had  bumped  into  tlit  | 
front  fence  instead  of  opening  the  gate. 

The  log  fire  in  tiie  wonder  room  was  not  a  bit  ton 
warm,  and  as  they  gathered  around  it  Mr.   Wolf  and 
Quick  came  in  from  the  kitchen  licking  their  lips,  as  if! 
they  had  been  so  busy  with  supper  that  they  had  n()[% 
missed  their  friends. 

Wolf  settled  himself  at  Mrs.  I^lake's  feet  with  all  tli 
dignity  of  a  St.  Bernard,  but  Quick  kept  prancing  and  ^ 
springing  from  one  to  another  with  Fox-Terrier  ner- 
vousness. 

"  In  the  spring  when  we  began  to  learn  about  birds,! 
I  told  you  a  few  facts  about  their  bones  and  feat  hers,  j 
the  way  in  which  they  were  made  and  for  what  thevj 
were  useful,"  said  Dr.  Roy,  sitting  at  his  desk  and  tip- 
ping buck  his  chair.     "  We  found  the  bird  was  a  good 
American  citizen,  and  I  think  you  feel  now  as  if  } on 
really  had  a  bowing  acquaintance  with  some  of  tliesel 
feathered  folk."  "• 

"  Yes,"  said   Dodo,  "  I   forget  some  things  you  said 
about  them  for  a  while,  and  tlien  I  remember  again.i 


WAFFLES  AND  A    WALK 


29 


rier  nei- 


RWi  saw  a  Screech  Owl  in  the  woods  yesterday,  and  I 
k'liieuihered  its  name  right  off,  and  that  it  was  one  of 
ilit  good  Owls  tliat  mustn't  be  shot." 

■•(lood  girl,  that  encourages  your  old  uncle  to  tell 
loll  more  stories  this  winter  about  some  of  the  other 
[irciilures  that  are  branches  of  the  wonderful  animal 
tree." 

Nat  and  llap  brightened  up,  and  Olive  said  she 
^)iild  not  imagine  anything  pleasanter  for  winter  even- 

lllU'S. 

But  we  have  to  do  our  lessons  in  the  evenings," 
Raul  Nat,  dolefully. 

I'jR'le  Koy  will  manage  it  somehow,"  said  Dodo, 
iliakiiig  her  head  conlidently;  "there  is  a  surprise 
loinewliere,  I  know.  I've  been  expecting  it."  At  this 
dr.  and  Mrs.  Blake  and  the  Doctor  smiled,  but  said 
lotliin;.^. 

*' Tncle  Roy,"  persisted  Dodo,  after  a  pause,  "won't 
jon  do  as  you  did  with  the  birds,  and  tell  us  about 
llie  wild  American  animals  instead  of  about  menagerie 
peasts,  Jind  then  make  us  a  book  about  tliem  ?  There 
^Hist  be  as  many  as  fifty  kinds  of  usual  animals  in 
Linerica,  counting  all  those  in  the  west  country.  I'm 
10  tired  ot"  menagerie  beasts  — 

"  '  L  is  for  Lion  who  roars  in  his  raq^e, 
T  is  for  Tiger  wlio  snarls  in  his  cage,' 

[lull  was  on  my  picture  blocks  wlien  I  was  a  little  child. 

Iiad  [)icture  books  of  Cockatoos  and  other  strange 
^inls,  loo,  but  they  never  seemed  to  mean  anything 
iiitil  you  told  US  about  our  American  birds." 

"  Voii  are  riglit.  Dodo,"  said  tiie   Doctor,  '"•and  you 


30 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I  I? 
li 


i 


liave  given  me  some  new  ideas  for  my  surprise.     YesJ 
there  is  a  surprise  hiding  somewhere  near  !     We  jiitj 
to   have    a   Avinter    camp    here   at   the   farm,  and  lliej 
stories  tokl  at  the  camptire  shall  all  be  about  four- 
footed  Americans,  with  a  few  about  some  no-footed 
and  wing-handed  ones  thrown  in." 


IV 


CLIMBING  THE   ANIMAL   TREE 


w'i 


PLENDID!"   cried  Nat  and  Rap  to- 
gether, as  soon  as  they  realized  what 
Dr.  Roy  said.     "  When  shall  we  have 
the  stories  ?  " 

"  What  is  a  campfire  ?     Is  it  made 
of  logs  or  coal  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"  Where   are   you  going  to  liave 
the    camp?      Here    in    the    wonder 
'"^       "       '     room  ? "    asked    Olive,    who    was    as 
^nuch  surprised  as  her  cousins. 

What  are  no-footed  Americans,  fishes  ?  "  persisted 
Dodo. 

Fishes  have  no  feet,  and  yet  these  no-footed  beasts 
ire  not  fishes.  The  Americans  you  shall  hear  about 
kvill  all  be  our  blood  brothers,  the  Mammals  —  the 
pif)^liest  branch  of  the  animal  tree,  the  one  that  I 
said  lias  so  many  smaller  branches  that  it  seems  almost 
[ike  a  whole  tree  by  itself." 

"  M  —  mammals  ;  m  —  milk,"  said  Dodo,  proud  at 
lot  liaving  forgotten.  "  But,  Uncle  Roy,  we  can't 
ke  nil  these  M  —  mammals  outdoors,  as  we  did  the 
ji»ii(ls,  and  there  aren't  any  here  in  your  wonder  room. 
How  can  we  tell  how  they  look?" 
"  Vou  will   pvobably  see  some  of   the  smaller   ones 

31 


ri 


32 


FOUIi-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


this  winter,  just  as  you  saw  tlie  Fox  to-night.  I 
have  the  skins  of  others  packed  away  in  chests ;  and 
some  you  must  learn  to  know  by  i)ictnres,  until  you 
have  a  chance  to  see  them  in  the  Zoo  or  in  a  Museum. 

"  No  more  questions  to-night.  You  will  hear  more 
about  the  surprise  to-morrow.  Now  1  must  try  to 
tell  you  how  to  climb  the  animal  tree,  so  tliat  you  may 
step  easily  from  branch  to  branch  and  have  a  general 
understanding  of  its  groups  and   families." 

"This  will  be  harder  than  learning  about  bones 
and  feathers  that  built  the  l)ird." 

"  Yes  and  no  I  When  yon  began  to  learn  tlie 
geography  of  our  country,  what  was  the  first  map 
you  saw,  Nat?  A  map  of  one  state,  with  all  the 
mountains,  rivers,  cities,  and  towns,  large  and  small  ?" 

"Ah,  no,  uncle  ;  a  plain,  easy  map  of  the  whole  of 
North  America,  with  only  the  very  big  chief  moun- 
tains, rivers,  and  land  divisions  put  down.  It  took 
us  a  long  time  oidy  to  learn  the  names  of  the  states 
and  how  they  were  bounded  ;  then  by  and  by  wo 
took  tliem  in  groups,  until  at  this  school  we  are  hav- 
ing each  state  by  itself." 

"Precisely.  Nt)W,  in  drawing  this  animal  ti'cc,  1 
will  not  put  down  all  snndl  branches  and  twigs,  but 
merely  the  chief  branches,  so  that  y<ni  nniy  have  what 
is  called  a  "general  idea'  of  tlu'  whole.  Then  fr«>m 
time  to  time  you  can  study  by  itself  any  branch  that 
parti(!ularly  interests  you. 

"Now  watch,"  said  the  Doctoi',  drawing  rai)idly  on 
a  large  sheet  of  cardboard.  "Your  old  nncle  is  nn 
draughtsman,  but  this  will  do  for  a  beginning,  and  I 
will  copy  it  neatly   by  an<l    by,  so  tliid    we  can    han^' 


CLIMliINQ    THE  ANIMAL   THEE 


33 


it  on  the  wall  of  our  camp.     This  animal  tree  has  a 
straight  trunk,  and  first  come  eight  branches." 

''  Ah  !  All  !  "  cried  Dodo.  "  Mother  !  Daddy  ! 
(onie  and  look  !  Uncle  is  making  each  branch  end 
iji  an  animal,  so  we  can  see  with  one  peep  where 
tliov  belong,  and  the  little  first  animal  that  belongs  to 
llu!  trunk  hasn't  any  more  shape  than  an  ink  lilot  ! 

'•What  is  tliat  queer  little  spot,  uncle?  lias  it 
;i  luiine?  All  I  now  you  are  writing  tlie  name  on 
oacli  branch,"  chattered  Dodo. 

After  everybody  had  looked  at  the  sketch  of  the 
iuiinuil  tree,  the  Doctor  liung  it  up  on  tlie  door,  and 
said  he  would  try  to  answer  a  few  of  their  questions 
about  it. 

''These,"  said  the  Doctor,  pointing  to  the  lower 
l)raiiches  of  the  tree  that  he  had  drawn,  "are  the 
aninials  whidi  have  no  backbones,  —  Invertebrates^  the 
Wise  Men  call  them,  —  and  though  I  do  not  want 
to  trouble  you  with  long  names,  you  must  try  to 
reniLMubcr  this  one,  because  it  is  important  and  you 
will  meet  it  often  in  reading. 

"  With  these  ln'aiu'hcs  lu'gin  tlie  lowest  forms  of 
aiiiinal  life.  This  little  thing  on  the  trunk  that  Dodo 
called  an  ink  blot  is  the  very  first  form  of  animal  life, 
it  is  called  a  ProtozooH,  and  it  is  really  so  small  that 
yon  could  not  see  it    without   a  microscope." 

'•That  is  a  pretty  big  nan'e  for  next-to-notliing," 
said    l{a|). 

'*  Ves  ;  but  the  name,  like  nuniy  of  those  the  Wise 
Mm  give,  e\|»lains  the  meaning.  It  citnies  from  the 
(irt'ck  words  proton  (lirst  )  and  zooh  (anintal),  s«)  among 
ourselves  we  will  call  the  trunk  of  the  tree  the  lirsl 


34 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


II 


animal,  as  it  is   tlie   first  step   from  the  vegetable  toj 
the  animal  kingdom." 

"  If  it  is  so  small  and  has  so  little  body,  how  ciui 
you  tell  it  isn't  a  vegetable  ? "  asked  Olive. 

"  It  is  very  difficult  indeed  to  distinguish  between 
the  lower  forms  of  animal  and  vegetable  life,  and  Ave  1 
must  leave  the  reason  why  to  the  Wise  Men ;   for  it  | 
puzzles  them  very  often,  and  1  could  not  explain  it 
without  using  long  words." 

"Why,  Uncle    Hoy,"  said    Dodo,    "I    know  a   real 
simple  reason,  —  animals  can  move  and  plants  can't !  ' 

"  Wrong,  missy ;  many  of  the  lower  animals  cannot 
move.     The  coral,  for  instance,  and  the  oysters,  are  us  i 
much  fixtures  as  the  geraniums  in  their  pots  over  by 
the  window. 

"  But  to  return  to  our  animal  tree.     Besides  having! 
no   backbones,   these   lower   animals   have   no    hearts, 
lungs,  or  brains  ;   they  are  not   built  around  a  bony  | 
skeleton,  as  birds  are  or  we   ourselves.     Their   vital 
parts  are   held   in  a  single   tube.     These  animals  are 
of  various  sliapes  and  live  in  many  ways  and  places,! 
—  on  the  earth,  in  the  water,  and    in  mud.     Among! 
the  lower  branches  of   the  animal  tree,  you  will    find 
tilings  that  are  familiar  to  you,  tliougli  you  probably 
never  have  tliought  what  tliey  were,  whether  animalf- 
or  vegetables. 

"To  repeat  all  the  names,  ovoii  of  (he  animnls  tliatj 
belong  on  eacli   branch,  would  confuse   and   tire    yuiij 
sadly,  MO  I  will  only  tell  you  of  sonie  of  the  princiital 
kinds  that  you  are  most  likely  to  see,  to  act  as  steps,  so 
to  speak,  by  which  you  may  climl)  to  tiie  branch  wlitiv 
our  four-footed  Americans  live. 


CLIMBING   THE  ANIMAL   TREE 


35 


"  Oil  the  next  brancli  to  the  trunk,  or  First  Aniniiil, 
lltelong  the  Sponges  ;  they  are  phmt-like  water  animals 
Itluit  cannot  move.  Then  the  Jelly  Fishes  and  Sea 
Anemones,  which  are  masses  of  clear,  jelly-like  stuff 
jiloiiting  in  the  sea,  and.  many  of  these  are  beautifully 
Icolored." 

"  1  saw  some  Jelly  Fish  when  we  were  at  the  shore  this 
jsuininer,"  said  Dodo.      "  I  walked  on  some,  and  though 
they  felt  so  slimy  they  sort  of  made  my  feet  tingle." 

"Olive,"  said  the  Doctor,  "suppose  you  take  out  the 
|l)l;ickboard  and  write  the  names  of  these  lower  branches 
who  have  no  backbones." 


Protozoa  or 
First  Animals 

1.  Sponges  .  .  .  . 
12.  Jelly  Fishes  .  . 


■'{.  Corals 


K  TRUNK  AND  SOME  OF  THE  LOWER  BRANCHES 
OF  THE  ANIMAL  TREE 

The  trunk.  The  lowest  form  of  animal  life, 
body;  a  single  cell.  Most  of  them  too  small 
to  be  seen  without  microscope. 

Plant-like  water  animals  that  cannot  move. 

Round  masses  of  clear,  jelly-like  stuff  floating  in 
the  sea.     Sea  Anemones,  etc. 

The  wliitc,  lace-like  siuH-imcns  tliat  you  have 
.s(!en  in  cabinets,  or  tlie  itnlislicd  jtink  sprays 
that  are  made  into  ornanu'nts  or  ciirvt'd  iuto 
beads.  You  may  havf  tliought  tln'se  some 
sort  of  stones,  l)ut  corals  are  tiny,  snft-bodied 
animnls  living  in  cases  made  of  lime.  Many 
of  these  cases  built  u|>  cldsc  togftlier  form  the 
beautiful  shapt's  tliiil  ynii  kiimv. 

The  tive-pointcd  |trickly  animids  f(»und  on  sea 
beaches.     Sea  rrcliius.  etc.     Crinoids,  etc 

Long  squirming  animals,  of  both  land  and 
water;  also  living  as  parasites  ujtou  the  in- 
sides  of  other  animals, 


I.  Star  Fishes  . 
").    WOfMS  .... 


36 

6.  MoUusks.  . 

7.  Crustaceans 


8.  Spiders  and 
Scorpions  . 


FOUIi-FOOTED  AMERICANS 

.  Shell  Fish,  such  as  Oysters,  Clams  and  ^lussels, 
Snails,  Slugs,  Cuttle  Fish,  etc. 

.  Animals  covered  with  a  hard  shell,  having 
many  legs  and  a  pair  of  feeleis,  oi'  antenna, 
breathing  through  gills  the  air  that  is  dis- 
solved in  the  water.  Lobsters,  Crabs,  etc., 
are  Crustaceans. 
(Called  Arachnidje,  from  Arachne,  the  Spinner, 
because  they  spin  webs.)  Are  a  sort  of 
cousin  to  Crabs,  but  live  on  the  earth  instead 
of  in  the  water. 


"The  top  branches  of  this  pfroup  contain  the  Insects, 
with  many  legs,  their  bodies  being  divided  into  tlirue 
parts.  Insects  go  tlirough  many  changes  in  the  course 
of  development.  Take  the  butterfly  as  an  example. 
First  an  egg  is  laid  by  a  fully  grown  butterfly  ;  second, 
a  caterpillar  is  hatched  from  the  egg ;  tliird,  the  cater- 
pillar spins  itself  into  a  chrysalis,  or  cocoon,  out  of 
which  comes  the  winged  butterfly.  Ants,  mos(iuitous. 
flies,  and  beetles  are  all  insects. 

"  Among  the  next  circle  of  branches  we  find  the  ani- 
mals having  backbones,  the  Vertebrates.  I  think  you 
will  feel  more  at  home  with  them,  and  we  are  more 
nearly  concerned  with  them  now,  as  our  manunals  be- 
long in  this  order,  although  there  are  many  things  you 
must  some  day  learn  of  the  many  back  boneless  twigs, 
especially  about  the  insects  with  their  wonderful  winu's 
and  stings." 

"1  suppose  my  Rattlesnake  is  a  ratlu^r  low-down  Ver- 
tebrate, I'ncle  Hoy,"  said  Nat. 

'*No,  my  boy,  tliere  are  two  grades  l)elow  liim  and 
two  above.  See," — and  the  Doctor  drew  a  branch 
with  live  divisions. 


Vkhtkhh/Vte  Rr.vnchkh  «)K  tiik  Animai,  Thek. 

S7 


38 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


illilj 

■1 


THE  VERTEBRATE  BRANCHES  OF  THE  ANIMAL 

TREE 

ANIMALS   HAVING    IIACKHONES 

Animals  with  bony  skeletons ;   never  having  more  than  two  | 
pairs  of  limbs.     These  animals  inhabit  both  land  and  water,  and 
may  either  swim,  fly,  crawl,  or  walk. 

Fishes    ....  Cold-blooded  animals  that  live  in  water;    usually 
covered  with  scales.     They  breathe  through  gills. 
and  in  their  fins  we  see  the  very  beginnings  of  i 
limbs. 

Frogs,  etc.  .  .  (Amphibians.)     Going  through  several  transfornia-j 
tions,  from  egg  to  perfect  animal,  but  having  logs 
when  fully  grown.     The  stepping-stones  between  j 
fishes  and  reptiles. 

Reptiles    .  .  .  Cold-blooded,  egg-laying  animals,  either  with  a  shell  I 
or  scaly  covering,  living  on  land  or  in  the  water;  j 
some  kinds  doing  both.     They  have  simple,  three- 
chambered  heai'ts.   Alligators,  Turtles,  and  Snakes  j 
are  Reptiles. 

Birds Warm-blooded,  air-breathing  animals.      They  are! 

covered  with  feathers,  have  foui--chambered  hearts, ; 
and  the  young  are  hatched  from  eggs. 

Mammals    .  .  The  highest  order  of  animals.     Warm-blooded,  air- 
breathing,   having  a  four-chambered   heart  and! 
double  circulation.     The  yojing  are  born  alive  and 
nourished  by  their  mother's  milk.     JNIammals  are 
all  more  or  less  covered  with  hair.     The  Whale,  j 
Seal,  Cat,  Cow,  Dog,  Rabbit,  iMou.se,  Bat,  ^lonkey,  | 
and  Man  are  Mammals. 

"The  iSrannniil  braiicli  is  so  lar^o  and  iiiiportaiit  and 
has  so  many  small  branches  and  twi.i*'s  of  its  own  tliat; 
by  and  by  I  shall  make  yon  a  tre(^  of  it  by  itself." 

"  Are  yon  J^oin^  to  draw  the  Manunal  tree  to-nit^hl  ?"  j 
asked  Dodo,  anxionsly.     '•'•  liecanse   I  think  my  head  is 
as  fnll  of  thinking  as  it  will  hold." 


CLIMBING   THE  ANIMAL   TREE 


"  No,  missy,  not  another  word  to-night ;  it  is  half- 
I  past  eight,  and  your  mother  has  been  making  '  time-to- 
Uo-to-bed'  signs  at  me  for  half  an  hour." 

"  But,  mother,"  pleaded  Dodo,  "  though  my  head  is 
full,  my  stomach  feels  real  hollow,  and  we  were  going 
to  toast  crackers,  you  know." 

"  Very  well !  Nat,  rake  open  the  hot  ashes  and  see 
it'  you  can  find  another  pair  of  tongs.  Two  cracl  is 
I  and  a  glass  of  milk  make  a  very  comfortable  night- 
[ciip ;  for  if  you  go  to  bed  with  an  empty  stomach,  you 
will  probably  wake  up  with  an  empty  head,"  said  the 
Doctor,  rubbing  his  hands  together.  •'  Am  I  invited  to 
this  feast?"  ' 

"  Of  course  ;  you  and  mother  and  daddy.  Olive 
I  belongs  with  us  children.  It  wouldn't  be  a  real  feast 
j  without  you  all,"  said  Dodo,  a  look  of  perfect  content 
[  resting  on  her  round  face. 

"  Here  are  three  pairs  of  tongs.     Nat,  you  toast  for 

I  mamma,  and  Rap  for  uncle,  and  I'll  toast  for  papa  and 

Olive  ;  then  afterwards  we  can  toast  for  each  other. 

It's  lots  more  fun  doing  it  for  somebody  else,  and  then 

[having  somebody  do  it  for  you." 

In  a  moment  tlie  three  children  were  crouching  in 
[front  of  the  fire,  holding  the  crackers  by  the  rims  with 
old-fashioned  tongs,  over  the  bed  of  glowing  hickory 
[  fragments. 

"The  crackers  that  fall  into  the  fire  belong  to  the 
I  dogs,"  said  Dodo,  consolingly,  to  Rap,  who  had   just 
(lro|)})od   his   first    one.       "They   don't   mind   a    few 


ashes. 


'*  Here  is   mammy  with  tlie  big  pitcher,"  said   the 
Doctor.     "Now  all  stand  in  a  row  and  drink  a  health, 


40 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


ill    milk,    to    home,    and    the    blood-brothers    whose 
acquaintance    we    are     to     make  —  the     Four-Footed j 
Americans." 

"Is  Rap  going  to  stay  here  all  night?"  asked  Nat,j 
as  they  put  down  their  glasses. 

"No;  his  mother  would  worry.  Your  father  and  l\ 
will  walk  home  with  him;  we  have  some  things  to  talk; 
over."  • 

"  Is   it   anything  to  do  with  the   surprise  ? "    askud  ^ 
Dodo. 

"Miss  Inquisitive,  if  you  poke   your  precious  nose  I 
so  far  into  things,  some  day  it  may  be  shut  in  tlie  crack; 
of  a  door,"  laughed  her  father.  ^ 

"Ah!  the  wind  has  fallen  and  the  frost  has  come. 
I'm    glad    Rod    covered   those    pumpkins,"   said    tliej 
Doctor,  who  was  already  out  on  the  porch. 

"Then  we  can  go  imtting  to-morrow,"  said  Nat.| 
cajDering.     "Come  up  early.  Rap." 

"  We  shall  go  nutting  to-morrow,  but  Rap  need  not  I 
come  up  ;  we  will  call  for  him,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"But  *'ie  chestnuts  are  all  up  this  way,"  persisted! 
Dodo. 

"I  did  not  say  we  were  going  chestnuttin)/,'''  replied! 
the  Doctor,  closing  the  door  so  suddenly,  that  if  DodoV 
nose  liad  been  anything  longer  than  a  pug  it  miglit 
really  have  been  scpieezed  in  the  crack. 

"  M  —  mammals;  m  —  milk,"  she  lialf  sang,  liidi 
whispered,  as  slie  stumbled  sleepily  up  to  bed,  hanging 
on  her  mother's  arm. 

\ 


AN   AUTUMN   HOLIDAY 


;h^j'k% 


,IIEN    Nat    awoke    tlie    next 

iu()riiiii<^,  he  lay  quite  still 

for  a  nioment,  riibbiiij^  his 

eyes  and  wondering  what 

it  was  that  he  was  ti'ying 

to  remember. 

He  did  not  seem  to  be  in 
any  more  of  a  hurry  to  get 
up  than  the  sun,  who  was 
oidy  beginning  to  peep 
ill  rough  the  most  southerly  corner  of  the  orchard  trees, 
nistead  of  being  up  above  them  at  this  hour,  as  had 
been  his  habit  all  summer. 

Nat  finally  o[)ened  his  eyes  and  looked  toward  the 
[viiidow,  still  half  dreaming  about  Wild  West  Shows, 
niiiual  trees,  and  four-footed  Americans,  wondering 
Iiy  the  light  was  so  spe(;kled.  Then  as  he  saw  the 
frost  crystals  that  covered  the  panes  with  their  beauti- 
iil  fern  traceries,  it  all  came  back  like  a  flash,  and  he 
jiunped  out,  shouting,  "  Tiiere's  been  a  hard  frost,  and 
vc  are  to  go  nutting  to-day,  and  hear  about  the 
Surprise  !  " 

At  the  same  moment  Dodo's  sturdy  fist  pounded  on 
[lie  (h)or.     liang,  bang,  bang!     "Aren't   you  up  yet, 

41 


42 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Nattie?  I  am,  and  all  dressed."  Bang.  "My  boots 
laced  to  the  very  top,  and  my  teeth  cleaned  witlij 
powder."  Bang,  bang,  bang  !  Lacing  her  boots  audi 
cleaning  her  teeth  were  usually  two  weak  spots  inj 
Dodo's  toilet,  and  the  fact  that  she  had  done  both  soj 
early  in  the  morning  made  Nat  feel  sure  that  sonie-i 
thing  unusual  was  afoot. 

"Yes,  Fm  up,"  said    Nat,  "and  I'll  be   ready  in  a| 
minute." 

"  Father  says,  put  on  your  thick  very  old   clothes,  | 
and  the  old  boots  with  the  scraped  skin." 

"  Wliere   are  we  going  ?     Was  there  a  big  frost  ? " 
spluttered  Nat,  struggling  with  his  sponge  full  of  water,] 

"Uncle  Roy  said  he  would  tell  when  we  are  all 
dressed.  I  can't  seem  to  make  Olive  hurry  one  l)it.| 
and  breakfast  will  be  at  seven,  and  it's  a  quarter  to.j 
now.  Only  look  out,  and  you'll  see  what  kind  of  a 
frost  there  was,"  —  and  Nat  could  hear  tlie  squeak  and! 
flop  that  slie  nuide  as  she  slid  down  the  bannisters  and! 
landed  on  the  rug  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 

He  wiped  off  the  frost  with  his  towel  and  looked! 
out.     Near  the  house  everytliing  was  glittering  witli 
diamonds,  for  Jack  Frost  had  oidy  fingered  tlie  nearby 
things,  but  down  in  the  low  pasture  by  the  spring  the] 
blackened  ferns  showed  wliere  he  had  walked  with  liis 
heaviest   boots.     There    was   quite   a   commotion   and 
bustle  over  by  the   barns.     The   long   market   wagoiij 
with  all  three  seats  screwed  in  place  was  pulled  out  o 
its  slicd,  and  Rod  was  putting  Imndles  of  straw  in  tliej 
bottom.     Mysterious  baskets  stood  about,  and  in  onej 
Nat  thouglit  lie  saw  a  tea-kettle.     Who  was  that  niii 
in  a  queer  furry-looking  cap,  thick  sliort  co.it,  and  leg! 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


43 


nearby  i 
•ing  tliej 


wagon] 


(-ins  buttoned  up  to  liis  knees?  Nat  looked  again  and 
llicu  exclaimed  to  .himself,  "  Wli}',  it's  daddy,  and  the 
oilier  ]ium2)y-looking  man  is  uncle  I  "  Then  he  hurried 
on  with  dressing  as  the  only  means  of  solving  the 
mystery. 

This  morning  there  was  a  roaring  fire  in  the  Franklin 
stove  in  the  dinhig-room.  This  stove,  which  is  a  sort 
of  open  iireplace  on  legs  that  stands  out  a  little  way 
fi'oin  the  chimney,  throws  more  heat  into  the  room 
than  a  liearth  fire. 

''Now,"  said  the  Doctor,  coming  in  with  his  arm 
around  Olive,  who  met  him  in  the  hall,  "hold  your  ears 
wide  open  and  stand  away  from  the  table  so  that  you 
will  not  break  the  china. 

''  We  are  going  to  the  far-away  hickory  woods,  where 
we  expected  to  go  on  Dodo's  birthday  to  look  for  owls  I 
St()[)  a  moment  I  that  is  not  all.  Instead  of  taking 
sandwiches  and  such  things  for  lunch  we  are  going  to 
take  pots  and  pans  and  food  and  play  camp-out  and 
cook  our  dinner  and  supper  in  the  woods,  and  come 


lookedHl'oi'"-'  1>V  moonlight  I 


t    55 


''  Tluit  w  ill  be  fine,"  said  Olive.  "  I  half  expected 
jtliis  last  night." 

-.h)lly:'"  cried  Nat. 

"  IJnt,"  said  practical  Miss  Dodo,  "if  we  are  to  cook, 
plamniy  IJun  will  have  to  go,  and  being  out  after  dark 
will  make  her  grumble  about  her  bones." 

"  I  am  the  c-oo-k  who  is  going  with  y(m  to-day,"  said 
dr.  Blake,  conung  in  ;  "  and  a  very  good  cook,  too, 

can  tell  you." 

"Why,  daddy,"  exclaimed  botli  children,  "can  t/ou 
hiok,  and  out  in  the  woods,  without  any  stove,  too?" 


44 


FOUR-FOOTED   AMERICANS 


(( 


I 


Indeed  I  can,  and  inany's  the  day  that  your  Unelt 
Hoy  and  I  liave  not  only  had  to  cook  for  ourselves,  hut 
catch  or  slioot  our  own  provisions,  and  as  for  stoves  — | 
we  often  hadn't  even  a  hough  wind-hreak  over  us,  fuiill 
slept  on  tlie  ground  hi  our  ])lankets." 

"On   the  ground?     And   wasn't  it  wet,  and  didn't  I 
things  hite  you?     All,  what  is  that?     Come,  look  oiit^ 
here,  Uncle  Roy.     Wolf  and  Quick  have  caught  somei 
kind  of  a  wild  heast.     It's  too  small  for  a  Fox.     Wliat 
IS  it : 

"One  of  the  hig  Woodchucks  who  would   not  goj 
ill  the  trap  we  set  in  the  rocky  pasture,  and  who  is 
ratlier  late  in  holing  up.     They  generally  go  to  sleepl 
for  the  winter  hefore  hard  frost." 

"  Wliy  don't  they  freeze  ?  "  said  Dodo.     "  You  toldj 
us  once  that  it  was  very  extra  dangerous  to  go  to  sleep 
out  doors  in  cold  weather,  —  that  we  would  freeze  in  a! 
twinkling." 

"  Is  that  heast  one  of  the  four-footed  Americans  yoii| 
are  going  to  tell  us  ahout  ?  "  asked  Nat.    "  What  queer 
long  teeth  he  has  :  two  upper  and  two  under  ones,  witli 
straight  edges,  and  no  little  pointed  ones  like  our  eye- 
teeth.     Do  the  four-footed  Americans  helong  to  guikls| 
the  same  as  the  hirds  do.  Uncle  Roy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  hoy  ;   and  those  four  powerful  teeth  showi 
to  what  guild  the  Woodchuck  helongs,  —  the  greatest; 
guild  among  the  Mammals,  —  the  Gnawers. 

"  Mother  is  coming,"  said  Dodo,  going  to  the  staii's! 
to  meet  her,  as  ]\Iaminy  Bun  came  in  the  opposite  door 
with    the    coffee-pot.      "Now   everything   is   started.' 
'cause  nothing  really  hegins  right  end  up  until  motliei 


comes 


f  " 


th  show: 
greatest^ 


THK  Wot  D  .riUCK. 


Tlie  Do 

hicakftist, 

for  you  nil 

"  Are  yi 

at  least  CO 

"  No,  (le 

only  t'ooke 

a  nibble  ai 

or  for  anj 

woi-ry  ;   wi 

iiio-ht,  thoi 

'J\)m  aui 

so  Comet 

wa^^'ou  is  o 

a  wink  to  1 

"Are  yo 

lilake,  anx 

*'I  will 

kettle,  a  oo 

six   tin   i)li 

sii^'-ar,  coffc 

l)a<;'  of  pot 

my  Hhot-uci 

niatelies." 

"'Pears 

din,  wif    l)( 

Maiiiiny   \\\ 

was  about  t 

I  do  feteli  ah 

Idry!" 

"Mr.  Rbi 
jdnii'l  like  t( 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


M 


'Die  Doctor  would  not  let  the  children  hurry  their 
bii'iikfiist,  Jind  Mr.  Blake  said,  "Eat  all  you  can  now, 
for  you  may  not  like  my  cooking." 

"  Are  you  not  going  to  take  some  cake  or  hread,  or 
at  least  cold  chicken  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Blake. 

"•  No,  dear  ;  not  even  bread,  (linger  cookies  are  the 
only  cooked  food  allowed.  I  want  to  give  the  children 
a  nibble  at  the  way  people  live  who  explore,  or  hunt, 
or  for  any  other  reason  take  to  a  wild  life.  Don't 
worry  ;  we  sliall  neither  starve  nor  be  out  quite  all 
iiiolit,  though  it  may  be  late  before  we  return." 

Tom  and  Jerry  were  harnessed  to  the  farm  wagon, 
so  Comet  was  left  liome  by  liimself.  "  Vou  see  this 
wagon  is  only  suitable  for  stout  horses,"  said  Tom,  with 
a  wink  to  his  mate,  as  they  drove  round  to  the  house. 

"Arc  you  sure  you  have  everytliing? "  asked  Mrs. 
lUakc,  anxiously. 

"  I  will  give  you  a  list  of  our  belongings :  a  toa- 
kctth',  a  coft'eo-pot,  a  frying-pan,  and  a  small  tin  kettle, 
six  tin  plates,  cui)s,  knives  and  forks,  salt,  pepper, 
sugar,  coffee,  flour,  part  of  a  ham,  a  dozen  eggs,  a  small 
hag  of  potatoes,  a  cpiart  of  l)eans,  a  ball  of  stout  cord, 
my  sliot-gun,  a  small  axe,  a  shovel,  and  plenty  of 
inatclics." 

"'Pears  like  you  uns  was  calkerlatin'  to  plant  a  gar- 
din,  wif  beans  and  p'laiers  and  a  shovel,"  chuckled 
Manniiy  Bun,  who  was  never  far  away  when  a  picnic 
was  about  to  start.  "  i'^or  tie  law's  sakes,  Massa  Doctor, 
(lt»  fetch  along  a  jar  o'  sas,  —  all  dem  vittlcs  am  chokin' 

I  ilry . 

"Mr.  hhike  is  the  cook,  and  you  know,  mammy,  cooks 
Iddii't  like  to  be  interfered  with." 


46 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


n 


No  mo'  do  they,"  slie  chuckled. 


* 


* 


Tliey  stop[)ed  at  Uap's  house  and  found  him  waiting, 
with  a  feed-bag,  all  ready  for  the  nuts  he  expected  to 
get. 

"  Which  way  are  the  hickory  woods?"  asked  Olive; 
"toward  the  shore  or  inland?" 

"  Iidand  and  almost  twenty  miles  due  north  of  here. 
There  was  a  logging  camp  there  years  ago.  1  am  sure 
that  you  liave  never  been  in  tliat  direction." 

II   tlie  woods?"    asked    Rap, 


Is  tliere   any  river    in 

some  wihl  ducks 


Perl 


iai)s  we  may  se< 


"Tliere  is  a  strong,  swift  river  beyond  where  we  im 
going,  though  I  am  not  sure  that  we  shall  get  so  far  to- 
day,  but  there  is  a  small  river  and  pond  near  the  hick- 
ory woods,  where  you  may  see  ducks.  It  is  by  the  bij,' 
river  that  tiie  hunbcr  camp  is,  where  Olaf  expects  to  U 
stoi)  for  a  few  months  this  winter." 

Some  of  the  trees  that  were  almost  covered  the  day 
bvd'ore  hud  dro[)i)(Ml  their  leaves  entirely  after  the  hiiid 
frost,  and  the  Red  S(iuirrcls  wercM'hatteriiig  and  ninniiii^ 
ah»n<r  the  stime  ftmces.  One  little  fellow  was  cai'ryiii" 
a  nut  in  each  cheek,  and  looked  very  comical,  as  if  lie 
either  had  tlie  mumps  or  a  toothache. 

"  I  never  noticcMl  before   how  many  S(|uirrcls  then 


are  about  heri 


I 


suppose  occause 


thel 


caves  MK 


Itl 


icin. 


Are  they  Mammals,  rnclc  Roy,  and  what  guild  do  tlicv 
belong  to  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"  Vcs,  tln^y  ari'  Manniials,  and  lliey  belong  to  llic 
same  guild  us  the  Woodchuck,  —  the  (inawers.  Walcii 
that  little  fellow  as  he  sits  up  and  turns  the  nut  about 
with    his    paws,    which    he    uses    (pilte    as   we   do   ouij 


!;  ,  1 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


47 


linnds.     See  li  jw  quickly  he  giiiiws  through  the  hard 

sliull." 

'*  So  he  does,"  cried  Nat. 

''('hipinuiiks  gnawed  up  a  lot  of  our  seckle  pears 
tliis  year  before  they  were  ripe,"  said  Kap.  '"■They 
seeiiiud  to  want  the  seeds,  for  they  left  the  fruity  part 
('liil)[)ed  up  all  over  the  grass  under  the  tree." 

'■  riiat  is  one  of  their  habits  ;  in  fact,  the  bad  habit 
of  the  whole  guihl,  that  tliey  destroy  much  more  than 
tlu'y  need  for  food." 

'^  Most  of  the  little  besists  hereabouts  belong  to  the 
(Tiiawers,  don't  they,  Doctor  !  "  asked  Rap.  "Scjuirrels, 
Cliipinunks,  Muskrats,  Kats,  Mice,  Woodchucks,  Rab- 
bits, and  all  such  things  ?  " 

"  Vcs,  all  tliMse  belong  to  the  Gnawers,  and  some  of 
tlii'in  we  call  vermin,  or,  as  Dodo  says,  '  Nuisance  Ani- 
iiiiils,'  wlio  do  more  harm  tlian  good.  Vet  nuiny  of 
them  are  wonderfully  intelligent,  and  it  seems  hard 
sometimes  to  say  that  we  should  kill  even  one  of  these 
little  misdiief-makers. 

'•'I'lie  great  balance  wheel  of  Nature  is  so  carefully 
made  and  W(dl  planned  by  its  Maker  that  we  must 
always  toncli  it  reverently." 

"  Wliat  (U)  yon  mean  by  balance  wheel,  Uncle  l{oy '.'' " 
askcfl  Nat. 

"Tiiis,  my  lad.  In  this  worhl  of  ours  iiotliing,  from 
tlic  least  grain  of  sand  to  tlie  sti'ongest  animal,  was 
made  lor  ilstdf  alone.  IvM'h  thing  depends  upon  some 
(itlicr  tlnng,  whieli  is  e(inally  dependent  in  its  own  turn. 
S(t  we  may  compare  this  plan  to  a  wliccd  whieli,  tlioiigh 
it  is  made  of  many  dilTerent  parts,  —  hub.  spokes,  rim, 
and  tire,  —  would  not  be  a  uscd'ul,  iM-rlect  wlietd  if  even 


48 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERKJANS 


n 


i 


i     "t 


a  single  spoke  were  missing,  so  much  does  the  strength  J 
of  the  whole  depend  on  even  tlie  least  part.     We  may 
think  that  this  animal  or  that  is  of  no  use,  until  we 
find  by  experienee  tliat  it  lilled  its  plaee  as  a  small  but 
ini[)ortant  spoke  in  this  life- wheel." 

"  Hut,  father,"  said  Olive,  "  it  is  surely  necessary  for 
us  to  kill  Rats  and  Miee  and  otlier  nuisance  animals?" 

"•Certainly,  we  must  kill  tliem  now  because  tiic 
balance  wheel  has  been  so  disturbed  that  these  animals 
have  juultiplied  out  of  their  due  proportion  and  we  have 
made  ourselves  res[)onsibie  for  their  increase.  This  is 
a  penalty  man  has  to  pay  in  many  ways  for  eating  of 
the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  knowledge.  He  has  to  labor  to 
accomi)lish  many  things  that  Heart  of  Nature  intended 
doing  for  him."' 

"  'I'hen  maybe  if  people  hadn't  shot  so  many  Owls 
and  good  Ciinnibal  Birds,  it  would  have  helped  keep 
down  the  nuisance  animals,"  ventured  Dodo.  *' Oh, 
uncle,  what  are  those  funny  little  haystacks  down  in 
tlie  water  in  the  marsh  meadow?" 

•■'Muskrat  huts.  Stop  a  minute,  Olive,  and  let  us 
look  at  them,"  said  the  Doctor,  shading  his  eyes  witii 
his  hands.  "Tlie  animals  who  make  their  lionies  in 
those  haystacks,  as  Dodo  calls  them,  are  very  curious 
as  well  as  both  mischievous  ami  useful.  I'hcy  look 
like  something  between  the  Woodchuck  the  dotrs 
brought  in  this  morning  and  a  great  liat.  They  are 
a  littli!  under  a  foot  long,  and  Uut  can  swim  as  fast 
as  a  Duck.  Their  front  toes  have  long  claws  bir 
scratching,  and  their  back  toes  webs  for  swinnning. 
Tlicy  live  in  the  banks  of  I'ivcrs  and  ponds  in  summer, 
and  retire  into  tlies(^  lints,  mad(^  of  rushes  and  old  weeds, 


AN  AUTUMN  JlOLllJAY  If 

Ixjfore  winter.  Tliey  will  suck  eggs  and  steal  poultry 
like  common  Rats.  They  have  a  stiff,  hairy-looking 
coat,  hut  underneath  it  is  soft,  beautiful  fur.  Why, 
that  old  cap  your  father  is  wearing  is  Muskrat  fur  — 
where  did  you  get  it,  Blake?  " 

"  Out  West,  with  many  other  such  things  to  keep  out 
eoUl.     But  this  is  only  the  common  uncolored  skin  ; 


Fkont  I'Aw  AND  Tail  of  Muskuat. 

the  furriers  dye  it  a  soft  brown,  selling  it  for  French 
seal,  —  ajid  a  very  pretty  fur  it  is,  too,  for  caps  and 
iiiiUeiis." 

"There  seem  to  be  a  good  many  wild  animals  al)out 
here,  even  tlu)Ugh  it's  a  pretty  tame  place  —  1  mean  a 
civilized  [)laAje,"  said  Nat,  correcting  himself.  "  I  never 
thoiigiit  that  we  should  lind  fur  beasts  so  near  home. 
IM  iiice  to  see  into  one  of  those  Musl\rat  houses,  uncle." 

''And  so  you  sliail,  as  soon  as  it  is  cold  enough  for 
tiu'  water  that  surrounds  it  to  l)e  fro/A'U  so  tliat  we  can 
walk  to  them.  Th(^  story  of  tluitanimal  and  ids  cousin, 
Ihc  IJcavcr,  is  enough  to  till  a  book  all  by  itself." 


50 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


After  they  had  jogged  along  a  fairly  level  road  for 
a  couple  of  lioui's,  tlie  children  asking  questions  and 
begging  to  get  out  at  intervals,  to  pick  up  some  par- 
ticularly nice  a[)ple  that  had  fallen  outside  a  fence  and 
been  i)assed  by  in  the  general  harvest,  they  turned  into 
a  lane  road  with  turf  between  tlie  wheel  tracks.  The 
groiuid  now  began  to  rise  in  a  zig-zag  fashion  between 
a  wall  of  hemlock  and  pine  trees,  under  which  were 
mats  of  ground  pine,  partridge  berry,  and  wintergreeii. 

Whirr-whirr,  and  a  pair  of  large  brownish  birds  flew 
up  from  the  roadside  and  disappeared  in  some  bushes. 

"What  were  those  birds  as  big  as  chickens?" 
screamed  Dodo.  "  (^h,  why  didn't  some  wie  catcli 
them  ?     They  went  right  by  your  nose,  Olive  !  " 

"  1  tliink  partly  because  I  was  as  mucli  surprised  us 
they  were,"  laughed  Olive. 

"  As  line  a  pair  of  Huffed  Grouse  as  one  could  wish 
for  dinner,"  said  Mr.  Blake. 

"  Ah,  papa,  you  wouldn't  eat  them  ?  "  wailed  Dodo. 

"Why  not,  girlie  ?  They  are  game  birds  made  for 
food ;  their  nesting  is  over,  and  this  is  tlie  season  that 
the  Wise  Men  say  we  may  take  tliem  l)y  fair  hunting.'' 

"What  is  fair  hunting?  1  don't  tliink  any  hunting 
is  fair." 

"Using  no  trap  or  snare,  but  following  the  game 
afoot,  if  it  l)e  birds  with  gun  and  dog,  killing  no  more 
than  you  need.  It'  it  is  a  Deer,  Klk,  Moose,  or  Ante- 
lo[)e,  using  your  own  perseverance  and  rille  without  a 
dog,  and  never  taking  a  doe  or  fawn  uidess  absolnte 
starvation  star^-s  you  in  the  I'acc." 

"hut  if  you  are  trying  to  kill  nuisance  animals?" 
asked    Hap. 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


61 


'•  Then  use  gun,  trap,  snare,  poison,  or  any  other 
[jueans  you  have  ;  but  never  put  a  nuisance  animal  to 
[torture  —  iiev^er  leave  even  a  rat  to  die  miserably  in  a 

tnip. 

'J  guess  I'll  let  you  do  my  hunting  for  me,  daddy," 
^iiid  Dodo,  duly  impressed.     ""I'd  rather  not  kill  any- 
\t/iini/  myself." 

"And  I  had  much  rather  you  would  not,"  said  Mr. 
Bhike,  putting  his  arm  around  her.  '*  Keep  your  little 
lieiut  tender.  Tliere  is  greater  need  for  such  things 
than  for  game  and  guns  in  this  world  nowadays,  little 
Idiuighter.  I  would  not  notv  willingly  kill  a  big  game 
luiinal  myself  and  see  the  light  fade  from  its  bright 
;yes  and  the  last  flutter  of  its  breast." 

"  It  woiddn't  be  any  harm  if  Ave  learned  Jiow  to  shoot, 
,()nld  it,  daddy  ?  "  asked  Nat.  "  'Way  back  in  the  suni- 
iier  I'ncle  Roy  said  perhaps  you  would  teach  me  some 
Lime,  and  Rap,  too,"  for  the  boys  had  long  since  become 
Inseparable. 

"Certainly,  you  shall  learn  this  very  fall.  Evcrj'^ 
nan  should  know  how  to  shoot  and  handle  a  gun  prop- 
}i'ly,  if  need  requires.  Shooting  game  fairly  is  a  manly 
lit,  and  it  is  also  a  manly  art  to  know  when  and  wliat 
lot  to  shoot." 

'See  the  river,"  said  Dodo.  "  Yoii  called  it  little, 
)iit  it  is  much  bigger  and  swifter  tlian  our  river.  Oh, 
vliat  a  queer  bridge,  and  all  the  evergreen  trees  are  on 
[he  rocks  on  one  side,  and  great  tall  barky  trees  with 
10  leaves  on  tlie  otlier." 

"This  is  the  beginning  of  the  hickory  wood,  wliere 

('  are  goiug.      It  looks  to  me  as  if  some  one  had  been 
jiaking   imi)rovement   here,  since   my  day,"  said   the 


1' 

i 
1 

m 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Doctor.     "  Though  the  biggest  trees  are  gone,  tlie  tleaj 
ones  seem  to  have  been  taken  away  from  year  to  yeur.j 
and  the  young  growth  encouraged." 

"  Stop  a  minute,  (Jlive ;  your  father,  Nat,  and  I  will 
walk  this  last  mile  ;  the  road  is  too  steep  and  rougli 
for  a  full  load." 

"  Is  the  far  west  country  wilder  than  this  ? "  asked 
Dodo,  who  of  course  wdslied  to  walk  with  the  others, 
holding  tight  to  her  uncle's  hand.  "  I  think  it's  lonelv 
enough  for  Tigers  here,  if  it  was  only  warm  enough." 

"  Bless  my  heart,  this  is  not  wild  !     You  have  a  roiulj 
to  walk  on  ;  you  know  where  you  came  from  aud  wlieivl 
you  are  going.     To  call  a  country  really  wild  it  must 
have  no  roads,  but  only  gaps  or  trails  between  the  trees, 
and  often  not  even  these,  but  you  must  cut  a  patli  foij 
yourself.     You  will  more  frequently  know  where  yon  I 
wish  to  go  than  where  you   are  going;  and  you  aie 
never  sure  when,  if  ever,  you  will  get  back  to  the  place 
from  which  you  started." 

"  What  is  that  ahead  ?  Smoke  coming  from  the  ]\i\\-\ 
side.  It  must  be  from  the  charcoal-burner's  hut  tliati 
Olaf  spoke  of  last  summer.  I  supposed  tliat  was  tliri 
other  side  of  the  mountain,  but  1  see  the  wood  here  is  j 
about  right  for  making  cliarcoal." 

The  Doctor  and  Dodo  had  fallen  behind  Mr.  Blakr 
and  Nat.     When  they  overtook  them  tliey  found  tlmt 
the  lane  ended  in  some  liigh  hickory  woods,  and  Mi, 
Hlaive  suggested  they  couhln't  find  a  better  place  tui 
halt  and  make  their  play  camp. 

While  they  were  discussing  where  it  would  be  bestj 
to  tie  the  liorses,  a  tall,  thin,  but  wiry  man,  came  noise- 
lessly from  among  the  trees  and  stood  looking  at   iIk 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


53 


baity.  He  had  a  long,  straight  nose  like  a  Fox,  and 
fclL'e[)-set  eyes  ;  his  face  was  as  brown  as  his  beard,  and 
his  clothes  were  very  much  like  some  of  those  worn  by 
the  scouts  in  the  Wild  West  Show,  Ids  shoes  being 
witliout  seams,  like  moccasii.s. 

Ill  spite  of  his  strange  face  ai^l  dress  there  was  noth- 
iiii^'  forbidding  about  him,  and  he  had  a  pleasant  smile 
Ls  lie  stepped  noiselessly  up. 

''A  woodsman,  I  know,"  said  Mr.  Blake  to  himself, 
jsearcely  looking  at  the  man's  face,  but  judging  by  his 
Isoft  tread. 

The  man  stood  still  a  second,  looking  as  if  he  saw 
jsoine  familiar  object,  but  from  a  great  distance,  and 
then  exclaimed,  '•'•  1  want  to  know  I  "    ' 

Tlie  Doctor  and  Mr.  Blake  both  started  forward,  and 
jthe  strange  man  grasped  eacli  by  the  hand. 

"Nez  Long  I  Is  it  possible?"  said  the  Doctor,  dap- 
pling him  on  the  back  with  his  free  hand,  while  tlie 
Ichiklren  stood  looking  on  in  amazement.  Olive,  how- 
lever,  knew  who  he  was  as  soon  as  she  heard  the  name, 
Ijiiul  explained  to  the  others,  while  the  tL'vee  men  con- 
jtiiiued  to  talk  eagerly. 

Nez  was  a  man  from  northern  Maine  wliom  her  father 
liuid  uncle  had  known  out  West.     He  had  been  a  trapper, 
[liuiiter,  and  cowboy,  all  by  turns,  and  tlie  head  of  a  lum- 
ber eump  in  Canada.     The   French  Canadians  called 
jliim  Nez  Long,  which  means  "long-nose"  in  tlieir  lan- 
t,niiige.     He  had  once  saved  Mr.  JJlake's  life,  when  he 
was  almost  crushed  by  a  falling  tree  and  in  danger  of 
being  t(n'n  by  a  bear,  but  how  he  came  in  the  hickory 
jwood  she  of  course  did  not  know. 

''  Yes,  Fm  tlie  charcoal-burner,  I  reckon,  now,  and 


FOUli-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


iHi 


canoe-maker,  too,  and  do  a  bit  o'  Inintin'  and  trappin 
raound  about,  and  raise  some  tru(5k  t'other  side  o*  tlie| 
woods,  and  get  out  railroad  ties.     I've  a  camp  o'  inv 
own  inside  the  first  belt,  and  a  wife,  and  she  isn't  n 
squaw  neither,  and  two  young  uns.     Vou  see  I've  gm 
some  property  at  last,  Doc,  in  spite  of  being  a  sort  of 
wild  Injun  myself.     We  live  in  a  log  house,  though: 
we'd  choke  in  any  other  kind,  —  my  woman  an'  lue'sJ 
agreed   on   that.      She   was   'Toinette    Pardeau  —  old' 
Dominique's  daughter.     You'll  remember  him  ;  he  was  i 
your  guide  the  day  you  got  that  thunderin'  big  Bear, 
All  these  your  young  uns,  Jake?" 

"  What  a  queer  man,"  said  Dodo.     "  And  not  very 
polite.     He  calls  Uncle  lioy,  Doc,  and  daddy,  Jake.    I| 
don't  thhik  he  is  nice." 

"You   must   remember,"   said   Olive,   "that   he  has! 
been  with  them  in  wild  places  and  they  have  shared 
danger,  and  worked  and   hunted  together  as  if  thev 
were  brothers,  and  when  men  do  this,  the  Mister  drops! 
away  from  their  names,  and   they  feel  to  each  other  j 
as  you  and  Nat  and  Rap  do." 

"  Of  course  they  must,"  said  Dodo,  repentantly,  "undi 
he  picked  the  tree  off  daddy;  "  so,  without  hesitatiiiij,  j 
she  walked  up  to  him,  holding  out  her  liand,  and  sayiiii;i 
solemnly,  "Good  morning,  ]\lr.  Long  Nose,  I'm  glad  to' 
meet  you  and  thank  you  very  much  for  taking  the  tree  | 
off  daddy's  leg." 

"  I  want  to  know  !  "  stuttered  Nez,  more  surprised 
than  if  a  Grizzly   IJear  had  spoken  to  him. 

Kv^ery  one  laughed  then,  and  it  did  not  take  long  to 
explain  why  they  were  there,  and  how  tliey  were  goiiij,'j 
to  cook  dinner  camp-fasliion ;  and  Nat  feeling  tlie  siul- 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


55 


lien  ('()iifi<lt'iice  in  Nez  that  young  people  and  dogs  have 
[in  those  wlio  really  love  them,  said,  "I'm  going  to 
It'iiin  to  shoot  this  winter  and  hear  all  ahout  the  wild 
Auierioan  animals,  and  sometimes  you  will  let  us  come 
to  see  you,  won't  you,  and  you'll  tell  us  stories  ?  " 

"Oh,  do,"  echoed  Dodo,  looking  np  at  liim  with  a 
teinilc  that  generally  had  yes^  as  its  reward,  "and  per- 
haps you'll  tell  us  just  one  story  for  dessert  to-day." 

"  Sure  enougli  I  will,"  he  answered ;  "  and  I'll  set 
•ou  a  camp  and  a  fire  all  slick  and  ready  while  you're 
-gettin'  your  nuts.  Then  you  can  come  over  yonder," 
uul  without  more  ado  he  disappeared  in  the  trees. 

'Where  are  the  nuts?"  asked  Dodo,  looking  up  to 
tlie  sky. 

"•  ( )ii  the  ground  partly  and  in  the  trees  mostly," 
said  Olive.  "If  these  trees  in  front  of  us  had  a  good 
slinking,  we  could  pick  up  enougli  hickories  to  last  all 
winter." 

The  horses  were  unharnessed,  tethered  to  stumps 
md  hlaidveted ;  for  in  spite  of  the  bright  sun  the  air 
[was  keen,  and  tlie  wind  had  suddeidy  sprung  up,  scat- 
tering the  leaves  and  sending  down  quite  a  hailstorm 
)f  nuts. 

When  ]\rr.  Blake  and  the  Doctor,  climbing  some  of 
the  smaller  trees,  aided  the  wind  in  its  work,  the  nuts 
^-A\Q  the  gatherers  such  a  pelting  that  they  had  to  stop 
^uitil  the  squall  was  over. 

"  It's  almost  too  easy  to  be  fun,"  said  Nat,  as  they 
tied  up  the  mouth  of  Rap's  bag,  which  was  already 
filled.     "I  think  I'd  rather   hunt  for  things  a  little 


longer. 


"  Good  boy,"  said  his  father  ;  "  that  is  the  spirit  that 


M 


56 


FO UR-FOOTED  Ah  >'r  i.-A 278 


makes  a  real  sportsman,  —  tlie  wiiiuliing  and  waitiiio 
and  finding,  n(>t  sinipl}?^  tlie  greedy  getting  that  niakts| 
the  selfish  sort  of  man  I  call  a  Hunting  Wolf." 

''  You  had  hetter  make  the  most  of  this  easy  nuttiiii^j 
though,"  said  the  Doctor,  "for  when  it  comes  to  pick- 
ing up  chestnuts,  you  will  have  to  look  and  poke  about! 
between  the  leaves  and  stones,  I  can  tell  you." 

"  I  wonder  what  Mr.  l-«ong  Nose  is  doing,  and  howl 
he  is  going  to  fix  our  camp  for  us,"  said  Dodo,  empty, 
ing  her  little  basket  into  the  big  one  for  the  third  tiiiiej 
"I  think  we  have  enough  now." 

"  1   thought  there  was  some  other  reason  for  yourl 
hurry  beside  the  filling  of  the  bags.     I  never  knewf 
before  that  children  could  have  too  many  nuts.     But| 
don't  call  your  friend  Long  Nose,  Dodo  ;  he  has  a  real 
name,  though  it  was  never  used  among  his  camp-mates.' 

"  What  shall  I  call  him  then  —  Mr.  Long  ?  " 

"  No ;  simply  Nez,  pronounced  as  it  is  spelled  ;  hel 
will  understand  it  better,  for  if  you  called  him  Mister.j 
he  would  be  put  out,  perhaps." 

"  Oil,  what  a  big  Squirrel !  "  called  Nat.  "  Twice  asl 
large  as  those  about  the  farm,  and  all  one  color,  like  al 
Maltese  cat,  only  a  little  browner.  There  is  another,! 
and  another  yet,  chasing  about  like  anything  !  See,| 
Uncle  Roy  ;  up  there  !  " 

"(iray  Squirrels,  and  fine  ones,  too.  Tiiese  arel 
exactly  the  sort  of  woods  that  suit  them  ;  plenty  oil 
hickories  and  beech  trees,  and  water  not  far  away." 

"  How  many  kinds  of  i\merican  S(piirrels  are  there?'| 
asked  Dodo,  "and  is  the  lining  of  mother's. coat  made 
of  the  fur  of  this  gray  kind  ?  " 

"There     are    sixty    or    seventy    kinds    in     Nortlil 


I 


AN  AUTUMN  HOLIDAY 


57 


Auurica,  but  the  Red,  Gray,  the  big  Fox  Squirrel,  and 
tliu  little  Chipmunk,  or  Ground  Squirrel,  are  the  ones 
most    likely   to   interest    you.      The    lining   of    your 

|inotlier"s  coat  is  prol)ably  made  of  the  skins  of  a 
Ifussiiui  Squirrel.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  skins 
of  (lui-  speeies  are  too  thin  and  tender  to  let  them  go 

lin  the  list  of  valuable  fur-bearing  animals." 

*'  I   suppose   they  are  like   the   Moleskin   that    Rod 

[(Tiive  ine  to  make  a  muff  for  my  doll.  It  cracked  like 
a  piece  of  pai)er,  and  wouldn't  stfiy  sewed  well,  and 
it  liiul  a  very  queer  smell  that  took  a  day  to  wash  off 
iny  hands.     Why  do  some  animals  have  such  strange 

Ismells,  Uncle  Roy?" 

"  For  two  reasons.     There  are  protective  smells  and 

Isigiial  smells.  The  Skunk's  odor  belongs  to  tliis  first 
sort,  and  he  uses  his  evil  odor  as  a  we.apon  of  defence 
and  seems  to  thoroughly  understand  its  power,  for  very 
few  of  the  large  beasts  of  prey  ever  care  to  get  within 

I  range  of  it. 

''Tiie   signal  smells  are  as   important  to  the   Four- 

Ifooted  People  as  speech  is  to  House  People.  In  fact, 
tlie  power  of  scent  largely  takes  the  place  of  speech 
with  them.     What  they  lack  in  tongue  is  made  up  by 

la  wonderful  keenness  of  ear  and  nose. 

"-  A  Fox  goes  through  a  lane    and   can   tell   by  the 

[smell  whether  it  is  a  dog  who  has  been  there  before 
him  or  a  brother  Fox.  The  dog  in  his  turn  who  fol- 
h)ws  knows  by  the  scent  where  the  Fox  has  gone  and 

[can  find  him  unless  lie  crosses  water." 

"Why  can't  he  follow  him  across  water?     Does  it 

[wash  away  the  smell  ?"  asked  Nat. 
"Exactly,  but  — " 


M- 


1 


!  t 

I 
i 


\M 


58 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"What  is  tliui  terrible  noise,"  cried  Olive,  st<artiiig. 
and  they  Jill  listened,  somewhat  startled,  while  Dudu 
crept  close  between  her  father  and  uncle,  saying,  '*lt 
must  be  a  very  wild  sick  cow  that  is  hurt." 

"If  we  were  in  a  swamp  a  couple  of  hundred  miles 
further   north,  instead  of   here    in   a  hick(>ry  wood,  M 
should  say  it  was  either  a  cow  Moose  or  else  some  one 
imitatiug  one,"  said  Mr.  Blake. 

"  Why,  it's  Nez,  of  course,"  said  Dr.  Roy.  "  He  used 
to  be  one  of  the  best  Moose  callers  along  the  border, 
He  is  ready  for  us  to  (mhuc  up,  and  has  taken  that  Wiivj 
to  call  us,  though  we  are  not  Moose." 

"Let's  go  (piick  and  see,"  said   Dodo,  recovering  lieij 
courage,  and  hurrying  the   party  along.     "  What  ai\ 
Afoose,  and  what  (h)  people  call  them  for?" 

"  Moose  are  the  largest  of   our  Deei".     The  cry  \vt| 
have  just  heard  is  tlie  cow  Moose's  call  to  her  mato, 
Men  wlio  hunt  the   Moose   imitate    tliis    call,   and  tli^i 
bull  (which  is  the  name  given  male   Moose  and   Klkij 
comes  luirrying  U[)  to  iiuH't,  not  his  mate,  but  a  bullet.' 

"Do  you  call  that  fair  huntiug,  (laddy?"  iiskdl 
Nat. 

"  Xo,  I  do  not  ;  unless  the  hunter  is  hungry  and  cmiiI 
not  get  I'ood  in  any  other  way,  it  seems  to  me  little  IhiI 
ter  than  setting  a  trap.  A  s[)ortsman  should  show  liiJ 
skill  in  tinding  tli(!  Moose,  not  calling  him  by  a  trick. "| 

"  Ves,"  .said  Nat,  "  I  understand  that.      It's  the  sin 
as  if  when  wo  [Any  hide-and-seek  I  Winite(l    Dodo,  ai 
instead  of  hunting  for  her  1  cried  or  did  .something 
nuike  her  e(Mne  out,  and  then  cried  '  I  s|)y.'" 

"Look,  father!  Lo(dc  there  I "  said  Olive.  ''Ii-I 
like  the  old  days  in  Canada." 


AN  ArrUMN  HOLIDAY 


69 


As  they  left  the  narrow  footpath  where  they  had 
been  walking  in  Indian  file  they  stepped  into  an  open 
space  from  wliicii  all  tlie  trees  had  been  cut,  as  well  as 
the  underbrush.  At  the  further  side,  with  its  back 
iioainst  the  liill  toward  the  north,  v/as  a  log-cabin  with 
sniiill  windows  in  the  front  and  sides.  A  little  way  from 
it  w;is  a  sort  of  long  shed,  roofed  with  hemlock  boughs, 
uiuUr  which  was  a  grindstone,  some  tools,  etc.  In  the 
centre  of  the  open  square  the  earth  was  black,  -^nd  there 
[were  many  ashes,  as  if  a  tire  had  otten  burned  tliere. 

At  one  side  Nez  liimself  was  at  work,  axe  in  hand, 

jlu'forc  a  sort  of  tent  made  of  two  upright  poles,  and 

a  crosspiece    against   which   he    was   laying    hemlock 

l)onglis.     Not  far  from   this   two  logs   about  ti^  e  feet 

jlong  were  placed  side  by  side  on  the  gronnc^     'I'iie 

upi)er  side  was  shaved  off ;  at  one  end  tliey  we'  e  about 

four  inches  apart  an<l  at  the  other  eight,     iieineen  this 

was  a  line  of  glowing  charcoal,  kept  from  b.ii  ling  the 

llogs  by  the  earth  which  was  hca})ed  agains<   them.      At 

leitlier  ciid  tliere  was  an  upriglit  stake,  and  a  bar  was 

llaid  l)otween  these  so  that  it   came  about  a  foot  and  a 

llialf  above  the  lire. 


, 


.. ..:  .    \. 
I 

.  ■  1   :      • 


I    i    i 


WW 


VI 

OUT-D()()R   COOKERY 


''  We'll  se 
always  do." 

Noxt  Oliv 
Xez  bi'ono'lit 
ami  limisj;'  it 

"'J  know  \ 

''  I've  lixLM 
roasli'd  clu'sj 
''hut  I  ciui'l 
wliy  llu'j  ill 
tlie  otliei'."' 

"Thai   is 
niiig   to  nut 
the   bottom 
kettk',  and  tl 
if  \ve  set  the 
[but   tli(!    ket 
stauds  where 
pan  further 
Itliiun'  in  a  w 
Isn't    tills   ]<»!. 
"  \  -e-s.     s; 

"Koast    til 
fiT  tlie  ham 
IstciMs  (if    tile 
lllie  tt^i-kettlt 

''We  will 
'Mr.  Iliake.  ' 
is  it   foi    n'am 
thiniviuL,''   I   ni 
so  lon^''  to  (•( 


I  I 


ouT-noon  cook  eh  y 


61 


We'll  see  l)ef<)re  we  o'et  liome,"  said   Dodo ;   "  we 


alwayi 


do. 


Next  Olive  filled  tie  tea-kettle  from  a  i)ail  of  water 
Mez  l)roiight  from  a  si)riiig  on  the  hill  above  the  eabin, 
and  limit?  it  on  the  crossbar  over  the  lire. 

"  j  know  what  that  stick  is  for,  anyway,"  said  Nat. 

"I've  iixed  sticks  like  that  to  ho'.d  a  kottle,  and  I've 
loiistcd  chestnnts  and  potatoes  in  hot  ashes,-"  sai<l  Rap  ; 
''but  I  can't  thiidv  what  those  two  logs  are  for,  and 
why  they  are  iixed  wi<ler  apart  at  one  end  than  at 
the  other." 

"'I'biit  is  easily  explained,"  said  j\Ir.  iJlakc,  bet>in- 
iiiiiu-  (()  untie  his  packages  of  groceries.  '*  Von  see 
the  bottom  of  tlie  coffee-pot  is  smaller  than  the  tin 
kettle,  and  the  frying-})an  is  larger  than  either.  Now, 
if  \\v,  sc^t  the  c()ffee-i)ot  on  tlie  narrow  end,  it  fits  nicely, 
l)ut  llie  kettle  wonld  not  get  enongii  heat,  so  that 
'■stands  where  the  logs  are  wider  apart,  ,ind  the  frying- 


imn 


fnrtl 


ler  alonu' 


)-)  ' 


ai 


id  if 


we  wan 


tiling  m  a  wire 


broil 


cr,  it   con 


Id 


LTO 


ted    t( 
at  tl 


o  COOK  soine- 


le  very  e 


nd. 


Isn't   this  log  stove  a  great  invention?" 
I     "Y-e-s."  said   tiie  children:   '•  bnt  what  are  von  ijo- 
jiiiy'  to  cook  ?  " 

"  Ivoiist    the    potatoes  in    the  ashes,  boil    {\n\  coffee, 
Ifry  the  liam  and  eggs  in   this   pan.  tie  strings  to  the 


stems  (il    these  a}>ples  and    hang  them  on  the  rod   by 
Itlu'  tea-kettle. 

"We  will   begin  with  tlu;  |)otatoes  and  apples,"  said 

(I   liiiilB-^''"*  l>li»ke,  "for  they  take  the   longest  to  cook.      IIow 

it   foi    '^ame  about    hc'c,  Ne/?      I    broiiiiht   mv  unn, 


IS 


thinking   I   might   get   a   few  (^uail  ;  but    it's  lid\cn  ns 


St) 


long  to  come   up  that    theri^  is  not    lime 


i^i 


I!  ■ 
>  i  i 

iil 


62 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


it 


Quail  and  Grouse,  plenty,  and  some  Woodcock, 
if  you  know  where  to  go.  The  woman  is  takin'  a 
buncli  now  to  trade  over  tlie  mountain,  and  Stubhle. 
my  dog,  has  gone  with  her,  or  Td  send  him  out  Avitli 
you.  Here's  a  pair  o'  Grouse  that  have  hung  since 
day  before  yesterday ;  they'll  roast  tirst-rate,  if  you'll 
liave  'em." 

Nez  went  to  the  slied  and  brought  back  a  pair  of 
Partridges,  or  Ruffed  (arouse,  as  they  should  be  called, 
both  males,  with  rnffs  of  lustrous  green  leathers. 

"  How  pretty  I  "  said  Dodo,  stroking  them  ;  "  would , 
it  be  any  liarm  for  me  to  wear  those  wings  in  my  h.it  | 
after  we  have  eaten  the  birds  ?  " 

"It  is  no  harm  to  use  tlie  wings  of  food  birds  fori 
ornament  ;    tlie    only  danger   is   that   people,  wlio  do 
not  care  or  know  the  difference,  or  understand  ahdiitl 
Citizen  Uird,  may  wear  tlie  wings  of  Song    Birds  bv 
mistake." 

"  How  can  wc  roast  them  without  an  oven?"  asked 
IJiip,  as  tlu'v  watched    Nez   pulling  off   the  wing  aii(l| 
tail  featliers,  but  not  otherwise   plucking  the  (i rouse, 
*' Hang  them  with  a  string  over  the  tire?" 

"  In  tilt'  ashes  along  o'  tlie  potatoes,"  replied    Xez.l 
at  the  same  time  g'*>i"^  near  tlie  spring  and  briugin<,M 
sj)adcfnl  oF  ))!iab]e,  clayey  eartli,  wliich,  by  wetting,  liei 
kneaded  into  two  slieets  a  litth^  thicker  thnn  pie  crii.st. 

"'What    can    he    hv,    doing?"     whis[»crc<l     Dodo  u 
()liv(^  ;   "do  you  suppose  lie  iciilly  eats  mud  pies?" 

"  No,  dt!  u' ,  of  conrs(!  nol.      Wiilcli  I  " 

Nez    laid     ii    bird     in    tlic    ciMitrt^    of   cacli    sheet  nli 
clay    dough,    iil'lcr     welting     its     I'ealliers,     which    Ik 
wrapjied    ail    ai-onnd    it    as    it'    it    \ver»>    an    ajiplc    in 


OUT-DOOR   COOKERY 


63 


little  dumpling.  Then  he  dug  out  a  small  oven- 
like hole  under  the  broadest  part  of  the  lire,  into 
wliicli  he  put  the  Grouse,  covered  them  with  ashes, 
and  raked  the  live  coals  back  over  the  spot. 

''  Won't  they  be  all  burned  and  dirty  ?  "  whispered 
Dodo  to  Olive. 

''  Willi  and  see,"  was  her  answer. 

While  the  dinner  Avas  cooking,  Nez  led  the  party, 
all  except  the  cook,  about  his  cleaiing,  as  he  called  it. 

At  iirst  the  cabin  seemed  very  dark,  but  they  soon 
saw  that  it  had  two  rooms  separated  by  a  great  chim- 
ne}'  piled  up  of  broad  rough  stones.  One  roon\  was 
the  kitchen  and  living  room,  and  the  other  the  bed- 
room. This  had  l)ertiis  nailed  to  the  wall,  not  unlike 
those  in  a  sliip  or  f-ileepiiig  car.  The  bedding  con- 
sisted of  coarse  gray  blankets,  spread  over  fresh  hem- 
loek  l)()nghs  and  straw. 

The  iireplace  was  open  and  wide,  and  on  the  living- 
room  side  some  long  logs  Mere  pil<>d  one  on  top  of  the 
otlier,  witli  smaller  sticks  an<l  kin<Uings  in  front. 

"We  keep  er  sort  uv  cair.prtre  in  here  cold  nights, 
versee,  Doctor.  Wlien  on*'e  you've  been  uster  sleepin' 
jlty  ii  lire,  you  miss  it  drecii'ii).  Fnc  g(!t  a  stove  in 
licre,"  l<e  said,  [)oinling  to  th<^  kitttlten  ;  ''but  in  warm 
weather  we  (look  outside!  on  tlie  logs.  When  yem've 
s[)eiit  twenty  or  tiiirty  years  sleepin'  mostly  under 
jtiie  sky,  any  kin('  I'v  a  root"  seems  craitipy,  so  in  siun- 
iiicr  season  1  lie  <"il  yt't ." 

"|)i(i  y<»u  v\rv  slee|)  all  night   outdoors   lik(!  daddy 
jaml  uiiele,  with    no  tent  or  anything'/"  asked   Dodo, 
ill  an  awe-struck  lone,  leaving  the  boys,  who  were  look- 
iiii''ai  the  strangt!  assortment  of  things  that  hung  IVom 

no  no 


64 


FOUli-  FOOTED  AMERICANS 


1>. 

V 


the  rafters  of  the  cabin,  stood  in  corners,  or  were  stuck 
in  the  little  cracks  between  the  logs.  —  Fishing-poles, 
a  Wincliester  rifle,  a  double-barrel  sliot-gun,  bundles 
of  herbs,  the  furry  skins  of  several  kinds  of  small 
beasts,  a  Fox  tail  fastened  to  a  stick  for  a  duster,  uud 
many  other  fascinating  objects. 

"  Sleep  out  all  night,  missy  ?  "  said  Nez  in  astonish- 
ment ;  "  why,  o'  course,  that  wuz  always  the  kind  of 
campin'  1  did  when  I  wuz  trai)[)in'.'"' 

"  Why  didn't  wild  beasts  cat  you,  and  why  didn't 
you  get  all  damp  and  mouldv  / "  persisted  Doflo. 

"  Mostly  on  account  of  the  dry  air  in  those  places, 
and  camprtres,  1  reckon,  and  sleei)iu'  with  one  eye 
o])en,"  said  Nez,  laughing.  "Here  comes  R'^nny,  lie 
wants  his  suppf^r,  I  guess." 

"Why,  it's  a  Fox!  Won't  he  bite?  I  thoiK-lit 
Foxes  were  wild  beasts,"  said  Nat,  as  a  young  Fox. 
looking  something  like  a  small  collie  dog,  trotted  up 
to  the  cabin,  sniffing  about  and  eyeing  the  strangers 
suspiciously. 

"  That  Fox  won't  bite,  he's  a  pet  of  the  young  uns, 
His  mother  was  killed  for  chicken  stealin',  I  reckon, 
along  in  ^lay  :  and  Stubble  nosed  out  the  hole  on  the 
other  side  of  the  uutuntain,  and  I  found  two  pups  in 
it.  One  died,  and  we  raised  this.  We've  got  a 
young  (^oou,  too,  somewhere  about." 

'•Hi'  is  JMsl  as  [)i'('(ty  as  a  dog.      Will  he  never  niii 
away  iMid   (rv   to   (iiiil    his  motiicr?"    askccl   l{ap.     "I 
had  ii    tame  Coon  once,  and   it  stayed  round  all   ri<jfhl,| 
but  along  in  tiie  second  spring  it  ran  away." 

"I  reckon  tlie  Fox  will  too,  wh(ui  lie  gits  old  enougli 
to  take  a  mate,  and  .set  uj»  house  for  himself.     They  all 


ill 


f      ! 


OUT- DOOR  COOKERY 


65 


Jq^  — birds  and  beasts  and  folks  too,  — everybody  likes, 
to  liave  a  place  of  his  own.  Don't  lie,  Doctor?  Here 
I  was  a-roamin'  all  over  creation,  no  idea  uv  stayin' 
put  iuiywhere,  and  here  I  am  settled  down  and  what 
tlicy  call  civilized." 

The  Doctor  laughed  and  walked  off  with  Nez  to  see 
his  charcoal  pit  and  bit  of  cleared  land,  where  he 
raised  potatoes  and  beans,  while  the  children  still 
looked  wonderingly  about  the  cabin. 

''  1  wonder  why  the  leaves  are  swept  away  so  clean 
all  about  liere?"  said  Dodo.  "It  looks  so  much  pret- 
tier to  have  leaves  and  pine  needles  on  the  ground." 

"On  account  of  fire,"  said  Olive.  "When  you 
camp  out,  you  have  to  be  very  careful  about  fire,  espe- 
cially in  places  where  there  are  many  evergreen  trees. 
Nez  cooks  out  of  doors  and  works  often  under  that 
shed,  and  has  a  log  fire  to  warm  him ;  and  if  the 
ground  were  covered  with  dry  leaves,  the  fire  might 
spread  all  through  the  woods." 

"  Tin  so  veri/  hungry,"  said  Dodo,  presently;  "  suppose 
we  go  over  and  see  how  daddy  is  getting  along  with 
liis  conking." 

"Tliere  must  be  Coons  living  around  here,"  said  Rap, 
looking  eagerly  into  some  old  trees.  "I  see  lots  of 
Ukely  holes,  and  there's  a  splendid  lot  of  brusli  down 
hill  there  for  Rabbits.  Say,  Nat,  1  wonder  when  Ave 
learn  to  slioot  if  Nez  wouldn't  lei  ns  conu!  Iicrc  and  get 
something  to  eat  and  then  cook  it?  It  would  be  great 
sport  ! 

"  We  can  ask  him,  anyliow.  'I'here,  daddy  is  beckon- 
ing to  lis,  and  I  smell  ham.  C-o-m-i-n-g,  c-o-m-i-n-g," 
Nat  siiouted. 


li 


:i 


66 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  It's  all  ready,"  said  Dodo,  who  had  gone  ahead, 
"only  Uncle  lioy  and  Nez  have  wandered  away,  and 
daddy  says  we  must  not  dig  out  the  roast  birds  until 
they  come  back.  Can't  you  moo-oo  to  call  tlieiii, 
daddy,  the  same  way  that  Nez  did?" 

"I  can  try,  girlie.  Nat,  go  over  to  the  cabin  and 
see  if  you  can  iind  a  great  cone-shaped  thing  made  ul 
bark." 

Nat  soon  returned  breathless,  but  with  the  desired 
article.  "  it  was  hanging  by  tlie  chimney  on  an  old 
pair  of  some  kind  of  (pKjer  Hat  spiked  Deer  horns." 

"Antlers,  Nat;  we  don't  call  those  things  horns  when 
they  belong  to  Deer.  They  must  be  the  antlers  of  Nez' 
famous  Moose.  You  must  ask  him  to  tell  you  about  it 
some  day.     Let  me  have  the  horn." 

"  It's  like  a  little  megaphone,  you  know,"  said  Nat ; 
"  the  thing  they  called  out  the  progrannne  with  at  the 
cii-cus,  only  that  was  tin  and  this  is  old  dry  bark." 

"  So  it  is,  and  that,  like  many  other  things,  had  its 
beginning  in  some  simple   invention  of  a  Avoodsman.  fj 
Let  me  have  it  —  Moo-oo-oo-o  I    VV^her  I    Moo-oo-oo-o  I" 

"  Oh,  what  a  queer  foggy  noise  I  "  cried  Dodo,  stop- 
ping up  her  ears. 

"  I'm  afraid,  LTncle  Jack,"  said  Olive,  "  if  I  were  a 
Moose  I  should  run  away  from  a  mate  with  such  a 
voice." 

"May  I  try?"  said  Pvap. 

"  Certaiidy.  I  never  was  a  good  Moose  caller,  it 
always  gave  me  a  sore  tliroat." 

Raj)  took  the  eone  and  called  gently  at  first,  raising 
the  horn  and  then  lowering  it  to  the  ground,  makini;' : 
very  goo«l  imitati(»n  of  Ne//  call. 


our- BOOR   COOKERY 


67 


''  J^ravo  !  "  cried  Mr.  Blake ;  "  some  one  must  have 
lauglit  you  that,  my  boy." 

"I've  seen  the  lumbermen  do  it  over  at  the  far 
iiiuiuitain." 

"Are  there  Moose  anywhere  near  here?"  asked  Olive. 

"•Oh,  no;  but  the  men  had  worked  in  North  Maine 
and  Canada,  and  they  used  to  sit  round  the  fire  and  tell 
boast  stories  of  what  they  had  done,  and  showed  how 
lliey  called  Moose." 

""  Boast  stories,  what  are  those  ?  "  asked  Olive. 

'"  Stories  about  animals  they  had  hunted  so  long  ago 
that  every  time  they  told  about  the  beast  it  got  bigger 
aiul  bigger,  until  it  wouldn't  have  known  itself." 

Mr.  Blake  laughed  heartily  at  Rap's  description,  as  if 
he  thoroughly  appreciated  his  meaning. 

"  When  we  sit  by  the  campfire  thinking  of  past  days 
that  have  pleased  us,  we  often  see  them  through  the 
firelight  as  we  do  things  in  dreams,  which  are  part 
imagination  and  part  memory.  Always  remember,  boys, 
that  the  adventures  we  have  under  the  open  sky  and 
the  friends  we  make  around  the  campfires  and  in  the 
silence  of  strange  places  —  open  prairie  or  trackless 
wood  —  are  different  from  the  doings  and  acquaintances 
of  every  day,  and  the  account  of  them  must  always  seem 
unreal  to  those  who  have  not  been  there." 

"You  called  fust  rate  the  second  time,"  said  Nez  to 
Mr.  lUake,  returning  from  showing  his  farm,  as  he 
calkMl  it.     "  It  was  a  little  onsertin  at  fust  —  " 

"Praise  Ka[) ;  tlie  call  1  gave  was  calK'd  a  'foggy 
noise '  by  Dodo." 

'*  Was  tliat  you,  little  cha[)?  Want  to  know  !  AVas 
von  raised  in  the  North  Woods'/" 


i 

/ 


If 


68 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"No,  but  I've  always  wanted  to  live  in  the  woods 
the  way  you  do ;  but  you  see  woods  are  too  far  a^ay 
from  people  for  mother  to  o-et  any  washiiii^  to  do." 

"Never  you  mind,"  said  Nez,  "iifter  tlie  tirst  snow 
you  come  up  and  stop  with  me  a  spell,  and  Til  show  you 
how  to  git  some  Rabbits  and  a  (h'ouse  or  two  for  your 
mammy,  when  I've  got  my  Muskrat  and  Mink  traps 
set.  Tliere's  no  big  game  hereabouts,  at  least  nuiu' 
bigger  than  a  Fox  or  a  l?()rki[)ine,  a  ('Oon  or  maybe  a 
couple  o'  Wild  Cats  stray  in'  about.  But  you  can  see 
how  the  night  comes  in  the  woods,  and  I'd  learn  you 
the  tracks  of  some  o'  the  fur  beasts.  If  we  get  good 
deep  snow  down  along  the  river  medders,  I'll  show  you 
how  to  walk  on  snow-shoes,  too ;  maybe  it'll  come  in 
handy  some  day." 

"  I  couldn't  learn  that  on  account  of  my  leg,  but  Niit 
could,  and  he'd  love  it,"  said  Rap,  cheerfully. 

"Dinner,  dinner,"  called  the  Doctor,  "and  stories 
afterward.  Dodo  is  very  anxious  to  see  you  open  the 
mud  pies,  Nez." 

"  Oome  and  sit  on  the  cushions  under  this  nice  wind 
broiik,"  said  Olive,  going  to  the  lean-to  that  Nez  had 
made  of  the  hemlock  boughs.  "  Here  are  your  plates 
and  cups,  —  you  be  waiter,  Nat,  and  take  them  to  Uncle 
Jack." 

"  What  do  you  call  your  camp,  Nez  ? "  asked  Air. 
lUake. 

"Settledown,'*  said  Noz,  laughii)g,  "'cause  we've  set- 
tled liere  nigli  two  years."' 

"  Hill  of  Fare  for  Dinner  at  Camp  Settlodown,  served 
by  Clief  Jacfjue,"  called  Mr.  Hlake.  "Ham  and  eggs, 
potatoes  in  jackets,  frying-pan  bread,  roast  (i  rouse  with 


''11 
I  I 


OUT-DOOR   COOKERY 


69 


clay  pastry.  Dessert  —  roast  apples  on  strinj^s,  ginger 
cookies,  and"  —  as  Nez  came  from  the  cabin  with  a  jar 
—  •'  wild  plum  jam,  and  coffee  with  condensed  cream!  " 

The  first  course  was  eaten  with  much  relish,  and  then 
tlicv  gathered  around  the  lire  to  see  Nez  uncover  his 
fanioiis  pies.  The  first  one  being  opened  disclosed  a 
mass  of  blackened  feathers. 

''I  knew  it  wouldn't  be  any  good,"  whispered  Dodo 
to  Nat. 

"Vou  know  too  soon  then,"  he  r('[)lied,  as  Nez  with 
a  skilful  pull  took  feathers,  skin,  all  from  the  bird, 

showing  its  smoking,  nicely  cooked  body  all  ready  to 
be  eaten. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  the  children,  as  they  cut  it,  or,  I  should 
say  more  truthfully,  pulled  it  apart. 

"It's  terribly  good  with  a  little  salt  on  it,"  said 
Dodo ;  "  here's  a  dear  little  wish-bone  for  you,  Olive, 
and  both  top  legs."  And  for  the  next  half  hour  the 
conversation  was  nearly  extinguished  by  the  food. 

"  Please,  are  you  going  to  tell  us  a  story  now  ? " 
asked  Dodo  of  Nez,  as  he  began  collecting  the  tin 
plates,  cups,  pots,  and  pans. 

"  Wash  up  yer  kit  first,  then  campfire  and  talking. 
You  see,  missy,  in  the  woods  it  don't  do  to  let  yer 
vittles  cool  on  the  dishes ;  it's  too  hard  to  clean  'em. 
Got  a  kittle?  Yes  ?  "  and  he  filled  the  largest  tin  with 
water,  which  he  set  on  the  fire  to  heat  for  disli-washing. 

"Any  dish-rag?"  and  Nez  carefully  put  the  good 
scraps  in  a  pail  to  feed  to  Stubble  when  lie  should 
return,  wiped  each  article  out  with  a  handful  of  leaves 
which  he  carefully  burned  as  soon  as  soiled, —  then  the 
dish-washing  was  an  easy  matter. 


r-i 


; 


I 


.  I 


BMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


Jf  Ki   122 
\!^  ti&   12.0 

u 


iL25  ly  1.4 


ii4 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  ITRIIT 

WIUTH.N  Y.  14SM 

(7U)I73-4S03 


4^ 


70 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  You  see,"  he  explained,  "  if  you  are  camping  in  any 
one  place  for  a  spell,  it  gets  dreadful  mussy  if  you  don't 
keep  cleaned  up,  and  then  you  may  want  yer  duds  in 
a  hurry.  Always  keep  yer  kit  ready,  whether  it's  guns, 
or  harness,  or  kittles ;  that's  camp  law." 

So  the  children  strayed  about  for  an  hour  or  so  until 
Nez  and  their  father  had  finished  their  work  and  smoked 
their  after-dinner  pipes. 

"  Now  we'll  have  a  campfire,  though  it's  the  wrong 
time  o'  day,"  continued  Nez,  piling  some  logs  from  his 
shed  against  a  couple  of  cliarred  tree  trunks  that  stood 
side  by  side  about  four  feet  apart ;  he  put  sticks  and 
kindling  in  front  of  the  logs,  arranging  the  heap  so  that 
the  wind  blew  from  the  front  to  the  back. 

"  Why  don't  you  put  the  sticks  in  a  stack,  like  corn 
stalks?"  asked  Nat.  "That  is  the  way  we  do  when 
Uncle  Roy  lets  us  make  bonfires  in  the  gravel-bank  lot ; 
it  burns  up  as  quick  as  a  flash,  only  it  eats  a  great  lot 
of  wood." 

"That's  the  reason  we  douH  do  it,"  said  Nez,  "just 
'cause  it  does  burn  up  quick  and  eat  the  wood  so  fast 
and  then  slumps  out.  This  isn't  the  real  time  o'  day 
that  in  natur'  a  woodsman  or  a  plainsman  would  stop 
to  build  a  campfire,  but  it'll  do  to  show  yon  by." 

"  When  do  people  generally  build  them  ? "  asked 
Uap. 

"Along  al)out  dark,"  said  Nez,  "after  supper,  Avlicn 
the  day's  work  is  done,  if  it's  a  cattle  round-up,  or  a 
Imntin'  or  a  himber  camp.  In  tlie  north  and  northwest 
country  the  air  is  dry  and  fine  enougli  in  the  daytime, 
l)ut  as  soon  as  the  sun  goes  down  —  down  goes  the 
weather,  too.     If  you  go  to  sk'ep  with  no  fire   or  let 


OUT-DOOR   COOKERY 


71 


your  fire  go  out,  you'll  get  up  with  stumblin'  feet  and 
hands  all  thumbs  in  the  morning.  That's  why  we  pile 
the  logs  this  way,  so  that  the  fire  gets  a  good  hold  and 
creeps  up  slowly,  and  lasts  long. 

"  Then  you'll  lie  under  yer  bush  shanty,  or  lean-to,  or 
canvas,  or  whatever  kind  of  a  shelter  you  have,  or  stretch 
out  on  the  ground  in  yer  blanket,  and  yer  so  glad  of  rest 
that  yer  wouldn't  change  with  any  one  in  a  castle. 
Some  one  throws  on  the  logs,  and  the  camp  settles  down 
for  the  niglit  to  smoke  and  talk  and  then  sleep.  Wolves 
may  bark  in  the  distance,  and  Wildcats  yowl  and 
sneeze  ;  as  long  as  the  fire  blazes  they'll  keep  away." 

"Please  tell  us  about  all  the  sorts  of  tents  you've 
slept  in,"  said  Olive. 

"And  Jibout  the  wild  beasts  that  sneezed  at  you," 
added  Nat,  as  they  all  watched  the  fire  dreamily  in  the 
comfortable  silence  brought  by  a  day  in  the  open  air 
and  a  good  meal. 

"  My  furst  reglar  campin'  was  in  a  lumber  camp  in 
Canada,  the  Saskatchewan  country  they  call  it.  All 
day  long  we  were  out  in  the  woods  cutting  trees,  trim- 
ming them  down  and  branding  the  logs  to  be  hauled 
over  the  snow  in  the  winter  to  the  river,  so  that  the 
spring  freshets  would  wash  them  down.  I  don't  think 
I  ever  struck  a  camp  that  had  more  game,  big  and  little, 
come  about  it.  Ma3d)e  it  was  'cause  I  was  young  then, 
and  everything  seemed  wonderful. 

"  Tlie  camp  was  clear  out  in  the  wilderness,  in  a  sort 
of  lioUer  between  a  marshy  place  all  bruslied  over  and 
a  woody  hill;  it  was  just  half  dugout,  half  log-cabin, 
like  my  own  yonder.  In  fact,  I  made  this  as  like;  as  I 
could  to  the  remend)rance  of  that  one.     Oidy,  like  most 


72 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


1   ! 


camps  tliereiibouts,  it  had  a  pair  iiv  Moose  horns  over 
the  door  to  bring  good  luintin". 

"It  was  the  furst  winter  that  I  was  there  I  learned 
from  the  Indians  and  half-breeds  how  to  read  signs;  to 
know  by  the  footprints  jest  what  animal  had  been  tliat 
way,  and  by  the  way  yonng  twigs  were  nibbled  and 
torn  whether  it  was  a  Moose,  —  if  it  was  a  bull  witii 
antlers  or  the  smaller  cow  without  them.  Then  I 
learnt  the  footmarks  of  all  the  fur  Ijeasts,  and  their 
toothmarks  on  the  bark,  and  when  there  were  scratches 
on  the  trees  1  knew  how  big  a  Why  had  sliarpened  his 
claws  there,  and  how  tall  he  was." 

"  Oil,  uncle,  don't  you  remember  how  you  said  the 
Wise  Men  made  animals  into  classes  by  looking  at  their 
feet  and  teeth,  but  1  didn't  know  people  could  tell  them 
only  by  their  footprints. 

"■  Please,  Nez,  can  you  tell  by  smell  where  all  the  dif- 
ferent animals  aro,  as  uncle  says  they  can  tell  about 
each  other  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"•  Not  quite,"  said  Nez,  laughing,  "  though  there  are 
a  few  I  can  nose  out  besides  Skunks.  I  did  some  lull 
huntin'  and  trappin'  then  for  a  season  or  two,  before 
the  game  got  too  skary,  and  folks  came  that  killed 
just  for  getting  the  antlers  of  the  bulls  and  leavin'  the 
meat  to  rot,  —  folks  tliat  took  a  fawn  or  doe  just  the 
same  as  a  buck.  Hunting  Wolves,  I  call  them,  for 
a  Wolf  is  a  wast(!ful  beast  in  his  killin'." 

"'I'hat's  wliat  daddy  calls  such  people,  too.  Tell  us 
the  names  (►f  some  of  the  Ix-asts  you  saw,"  coaxed  Nat. 

"  It  would  be  easier  to  name  those  I  didn't,"  said  Nez, 
hesitating;  "but  of  a  moonlight  night  after  an  early 
snow,  when  all  of  tin;  out  lit  but  me  was  away,  I've 


I  ! 


W'nu- 


Skinks. 


Canada  F-ynx. 


M»M»HK, 


seen  a  Mo 

ciil)iii,  wliil 

watching  t] 

a  Lynx  cr< 

Meanwhile 

about  clrea( 

make  food 

the  logs  an< 

the   snow. 

beasts  have 

"Oh!"  i 

beasts  you  g 

only  live  in 

"It  was  ; 

some  folks  ^ 

full  o'  blael 

tiiiie  I  shot 

some  day,  ai 

your  dad  wa 

That  is,  if  h 

"And  die 

or  find  Seals 

"No,  I  m 

mine,  a  Fijxh 

fur  north  as 

kno'.vs  those 

•stop  with  nie 

and  keepin' 

I  thought  nil 

"Olaf  I"  . 

"Want  to 

puffing  vigor 


OUT-DOOR  COOKERY 


73 


seen  a  Moose  come  from  the  windward  side  of  the 
ciil)in,  while  a  Fox  sulked  in  the  shade  of  some  firs 
watching  the  Skunks  fighting  over  the  scrap-pail,  and 
a  Lynx  crouched,  grinning,  on  a  log,  taking  it  all  in. 
Meanwhile  white  northern  Hares  and  Ermines  nosed 
about  dreadful  careless,  not  knowing  when  they  might 
make  food  for  Owls,  and  Meadow  Mice  squealed  among 
the  logs  and  left  their  little  tracks  like  birds'  claws  in 
the  snow.  When  they  think  there's  nobody  round, 
beasts  have  their  playtime,  just  like  folks." 

"  Oh  ! "  sighed  Rap  and  Nat  in  chorus,  "  all  those 
beasts  you  saw  are  four-footed  Americans  ;  if  we  could 
only  live  in  a  camp  and  see  them." 

"  It  was  a  nice  place  to  see  the  animals,  but  pshaw, 
some  folks  would  find  the  camp  smoky  in  winter  and 
full  o'  black  flies  in  summer.  Don't  I  remember  the 
time  I  shot  my  big  Moose  ?  I'll  tell  you  that  story 
some  day,  and  about  another  time  out  in  Montana  how 
your  dad  was  huntin'  for  Sheep  and  met  a  Grizzly  B'ar. 
Thatis,  if  hedon't." 

"And  did  you  ever  see  a  great  white  Polar  Bear, 
or  tind  Seals  swimming  on  the  ice  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"  No,  I  never  was  so  far  north.  There  is  a  friend  of 
mine,  a  Fiidander,  who  follows  the  sea,  who  has  been  as 
fur  north  as  most  men  go  and  get  back  again,  and  he 
kuo'.vs  tliose  beasts  and  their  ways.  He's  comin'  to 
stop  with  me  a  spell  tliis  snowfall,  and  he's  been  fishin' 
and  keepin'  a  liglit  down  on  the  shore  two  sunnners. 
I  thought  maybe  you'd  met  liim,  his  name  is  —  " 

"Olaf  I  "  cried  the  children  and  Olive  in  chorus. 

"  Want  to  know  1  "  said  Nez,  looking  pleased,  and 
puffing  vigorously  at  his  pipe. 


I . 


74 


FOUR  FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  Oh,  uncle !  Oh,  daddy  !  "  cried  Nat  and  Dodo, 
rolling  off  the  blankets  in  their  excitement.  "  Tsez 
knows  Olaf  and  lie's  coming  here  !  Don't  you  see  liow 
much  we  could  learn  about  the  fourfoots  if  we  could 
only  live  up  here  in  a  log  house  ?  " 

"  Doubtless  you  could,  and  you  would  perhaps  enjoy 
it  vasUy  for  a  while,  but  how  about  school  ?  You  nuist 
begin  by  being  fitted  for  your  lives  as  House  People ; 
few  of  us  can  live  the  wild  life,  except  now  and  tlien 
for  pleasure  and  as  a  rest  from  too  mucii  tameness. 
Don't  look  so  blue,  Nat.  Dodo,  cheer  up,  even  if  you 
may  not  live  in  a  log  house  you  are  not  going  to  l)e 
shut  up  in  a  prison  this  winter.  Listen,  and  I  will 
tell  you  the  whole  of  the  surprise  that  you  partly 
learned  yesterday." 

Four  heads  crowded  together,  and  eight  wide-o])eii 
eyes  gazed  at  Dr.  Roy,  for  Olive  was  as  much  in  the 
dark  as  the  others. 

"  Must  we  guess  ?  "  asked  Dodo,  clapping  her  hands. 

"  You  may  all  try,  if  you  like,  but  1  do  not  think  you 
can  possibly  guess  the  whole  of  the  secret." 

"  We  are  coming  up  here  on  Scaturdays  to  learn  to 
slioot  and  hear  Nez  tell  stories,"  ventured  Nat. 

"  No,"  said  Olive,  "  it  can't  be  that,  because  it  would 
be  too  far  and  too  cold  in  winter.  Perhaps  you  will 
ask  Nez  to  come  down  some  time  and  tell  us  stories." 
said  Olive. 

"It  takes  too  long  to  guess,"  cried  Dodo,  wriggliiiif | 
about  in  her  impatience,  "idease  tell  us  now  !  " 

"  Very  well  ;  tlie  surprise  has  three  parts  to  it.  Sit 
still,  Dodo,  and  remember  that  you  are  not  to  jump  up 
and  down  or  liug  me  until  I  have  quite  finished. 


"  You  al 
fiinu  that 
the  long,  1 
floor  Jind  w 
''  Oh,  yes 
find  Bats  t 
gl.iss  was  I 
thing  that  ] 

''  Now," 
is  clearing  < 
yon  fit  up  ti 
fireplace  is  1 
is  part  first. 
"Part  se( 
is  pleasant  j 
a  target. 

"Part  th 
'  camp '  and 
ion  as  you 
after  supper 
Aniericans. 
and  Olaf  otl 
nearby  beast 
chinks." 

"How  did 
exclaimed  O 
"  I  can  hiij 
it  vigorously 
"Hurrah! 
to  blow  a  joy 
utterly,  whilt 
face. 


OUT- DOOR   COOKERY 


75 


"  Voii  all  remember  the  okl  summer  kitchen  sit  the 
fiinu  that  is  filled  with  boxes,  tools,  and  rubbish, — 
tlie  long,  low  room  back  of  the  dairy,  with  the  brick 
floor  and  wide  fireplace?" 

"■  Oh,  yes,"  said  Nat,  "  IVe  looked  in  there  trying  to 
tiiid  Bats  that  I've  seen  go  through  a  place  where  the 
aliiss  was  broken,  but  it  was  scuffed  so  full  of  every- 
tliiiig  that  I  couldn't  get  in  at  the  door." 

"  Now,"  continued  the  Doctor,  "  this  very  day  Rod 
is  clearing  out  all  the  rubbish,  and  I  am  going  to  let 
von  fit  up  that  old  room  like  a  log-cabin  camp.  The 
iiiei)lace  is  large  enough  to  hold  a  fine  campfire.  This 
is  i)art  first. 

"Part  second.  —  livery  Sjiturday  afternoon  that  it 
is  pleasant  your  father  or  I  will  teach  you  to  shoot  at 
a  target. 

"  I'art  third.  —  When  it  is  dark  you  shall  go  into 
'  camp '  and  cook  your  own  supper,  after  the  same  fash- 
ion as  you  have  seen  the  dinner  cooked  to-day,  then 
after  supper  we  will  have  stories  about  the  four-footed 
Americans.  Nez  has  promised  to  tell  some  of  them, 
and  Olaf  others.  Rap  can  tell  what  he  knows  of  the 
nearby  beasts,  while  your  father  and  I  will  fill  in  ihe 
cliinks." 

"  How  did  you  ever  think  of  anything  so  lovely  ?  " 
exclaimed  Olive. 

"  I  can  hug  you  now,"  said  Dodo,  immediately  doing 
it  vigorously. 

"Hurrah!  ISIoo-oo-o  !  "  was  Nat's  resi)onse,  trying 
to  blow  a  joyful  blast  on  the  Moose  liorn,  and  failing 
utterly,  while  Rap  sat  in  silence,  but  with  a  beaming 
face.       ,         " 


76 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


■  mm 


I    ! 


"  Let's  go  home  and  begin  right  away,"  said  Dodo. 

"It  is  high  time  to  go  home,"  said  Mr.  lUake,  jump- 
ing up.  "Who  woukl  think  it  was  nearly  five  o'clock? 
The  sun  sets  in  a  hurry  these  days,  and  we  shall  huve 
to  ask  the  moon  to  escort  us,  1  think.  Cold  ham  and 
cookies  must  do  for  supper." 

"  Somebody  is  coming,"  said  Rap,  pointing  to  the 
path  that  wound  around  the  steep,  wooded  crest,  where 
his  quick  ears  detected  a  rustling  in  the  dead  leaves. 
At  the  same  time  a  ginger-colored  setter  dog  came  in 
sight,  followed  by  two  sturdy  little  boys,  who,  on  see- 
ing strangers,  dodged  into  the  cabin  like  frightened 
Rabbits. 

"  That's  Toinette  and  the  young  uns,"  said  Nez. 
Then  added  by  way  of  apology,  "  The  young  uns  don't 
see  many  folk  and  they  are  skary.  Here,  Toinette,'' 
speaking  to  a  rather  pretty,  dark-haired,  black-eyed 
young  woman,  who  came  up  carrying  a  basket  on  her 
head,  "  make  you  acquainted  with  some  old  tent  mates 


o'  mine." 


The  woman  gravely  held  out  her  hand  to  each  with 
a  pretty  gesture  of  welcome  that  said  more  than  words. 

"  Slie's  half  French,  you  see,"  explained  Nez,  "  and 
she  isn't  much  on  talkin'  American." 

lint  the  moment  Mr.  Blake  spoke  to  her  in  the  soft 
slurring  French  of  the  Canadian  woods,  she  answered 
readily,  and  her  face  was  wreathed  with  smiles. 

"You  must  bring  your  wife  and  children  down  to 
visit  us,  Nez,"  said  the  Doctor  ;  "it  will  do  tliem  good 
to  see  other  young  folks."  ^ 

"I  reckon  it  would.  The  boys  go  to  school  now. 
over  the  mountain ;  book  learnin'  is  some  good  even  to 


OUr-DOOR   COOKERY 


77 


ll  now. 
Iven  to 


wnotlsmen,  I  say,  and  by  the  time  they've  grown  up 
there  won't  be  much  of  a  livin'  left  in  the  woods, 
anyhow." 

"But  it's  more  than  five  miles  over  to  the  Ridge 
school  by  the  road." 

"  Yes,  but  that's  nothiu'  fine  days,  and  when  snow 
conies  I  calkerlate  ter  put  on  snow-shoes  and  ride  'em, 
one  on  each  shoulder,  across  country  ;  they  don't  weigh 
much  compared  to  camp  kits  and  Deer  I've  carried." 

''  Dodo,  how  would  you  like  to  go  ten  miles  a  day 
through  the  woods  to  school  ?  "  asked  her  father,  for 
Dodo  sometimes  grumbled  at  walking  the  smooth  mile 
that  lay  between  the  farm  and  schoolhouse. 

"At  first,  for  about  a  week,  it  would  be  fun,  and 
then  perfectly  dreadful,''  she  answered  promptly. 

They  left  Nez'  camp  reluctantly,  and  returned  to 
where  they  had  left  the  wagon  and  horses,  who  greeted 
them  with  neighs  of  pleasure.  Tom  had  walked  so 
many  times  around  the  tree  to  which  he  was  tethered 
that  he  was  wound  up  tight  to  the  trunk,  while  Jerry 
had  nibbled  his  rope  loose  and  was  having  a  fine  time 
rolling  on  the  ground,  though  his  thick  coat,  long  mane, 
and  tail  were  knotted  with  burrs  which  would  give  Rod 
a  good  hour's  work  to  comb  out. 

"  Never  mind,"  he  neighed,  as  the  Doctor  said  "  Look 
at  what  a  pickle  Jerry  is  in,"  —  "  I've  had  my  fun  to-day 
as  well  as  you." 

The  sun  disappeared  exactly  at  the  moment  that  the 
wagon  turned  into  the  lane  again,  and  every  one  waved 
good-by  to  Nez,  who  watched  them  out  of  sight. 

"  I  know  what  all  the  extra  blankets  and  things  were 
put  in  for,"  said  Dodo,  as  her  father  made  her  sit  on  a 


i'i  ■« 


!  t 


!  1 


78 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Pli 


I 


blanket  which  he  folded  over  her  knees  and  drew  about 
her  shoulders  like  a  shawl,  so  that  only  her  head  pee])ed 
out,  while  the  others  arranged  theirs  to  match.  "  It's 
like  being  in  a  bag.  How  nice  and  warm  it  feels,"  ,she 
said,  nestling  down.  "  I  didn't  know  just  one  blanket 
could  be  so  comfortable." 

"  Just  one  skin  robe  or  wool  blanket  is  all  that  the 
Indian  hunter,  or  plainsman,  has  to  stand  between  him 
and  the  bitter  cold  night,"  said  the  Doctor  ;  "  so  that 
many  people  who  are  living  the  out-door  life  continu- 
ally, have  their  blankets  sewed  into  this  shape  and 
lined  with  fur,  and  they  are  called  sleeping  bags." 

"  That  is  what  Dodo's  blanket  will  be  long  before  we 
get  home,"  said  Olive,  as  Dodo  nodded  and  swaytd  on 
the  seat. 

"No,  I'm  going  to  stay  awake  so  as  to  see  every- 
thing," said  she,  suddenly  stiffening  up  and  opening 
her  eyes  very  wide. 

"  Look  at  the  mist  coming  up  out  of  the  river  and 
lowlands,"  said  Rap  ;  "it's  just  as  if  they  had  gone  to 
sleep  and  it  was  their  breath." 

"  We  shall  save  three  miles  by  following  the  river 
lane,"  said  the  Doctor  to  Mr.  Blake,  who  was  driving. 

By  this  time  the  light  that  guided  them  came  from 
the  great  full  hunter's  moon,  and  all  that  v/as  left  of 
daylight  was  a  few  dull  red  shadows  in  the  west. 

"There  are  lots  of  little  beasts  out  to-night,"  said 
liap,  his  eyes  being  almost  as  keen  in  the  darkness  as  a  i 
cat's.     "  Oh,  Doctor,  do  you  hear  that  barking  down  | 
the  river  bank  ?     I'm  as  sure  as  anything  that  it's 
dog  that  has  treed  a  Coon,  for  the  noise  keeps  coming  | 
from  the  same  place.     Can't  we  stop  and  see  ?  " 


OUT- DOOR  COOKERY 


79 


Mr.  Blake  drew  in  the  horses,  and  they  all  listened 
for  several  minutes.  The  barking  turned  to  a  yelp 
and  then  a  baying,  and  almost  at  the  same  time  a  good- 
sized  beast,  bigger  than  the  largest  Angora  cat,  with 
a  full  tail,  sprang  from  the  bushes  into  the  road, 
stopped  to  listen,  and  then  scenting  the  horses  con- 
tinued on  its  way  through  the  bushes  and  disappeared 
among  the  rocks,  while  the  barking  dog  seemed  to  be 
taking  a  zig-zag  course  in  the  opposite  direction. 

"  We  have  seen  the  Coon  without  leaving  the  wagon," 
said  Mr.  Blake,  whipping  up  again.  "He  evidently 
sprang  from  the  tree  across  one  of  the  brooks  that  feed 
the  river,  and  the  dog  has  lost  the  scent." 

"It  is  a  very  queer  animal,"  said  Olive.  "Father, 
did  you  notice  when  it  sat  up  to  listen  it  looked  like 
a  little  Bear,  in  spite  of  its  long  tail  ?  " 

"  That  is  not  strange,  considering  that  it  is  a  cousin 
of  Bears,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  Coons  are  real  clever,"  said  Rap.  "  The  one  I  had 
could  do  ever  so  many  tricks,  and  used  its  paws  as  if 
they  were  hands." 

"  What  are  Coons  good  for  —  to  eat  or  wear  ?  "  asked 
Dodo. 

"  Both,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  Their  fur  is  soft  and 
prettily  brindled,  and  if  they  are  young,  the  flesh  is 
not  unlike  Rabbit." 

"  Mammy  Bun  says  they  used  to  have  Coons  down 
where  she  lived,  but  their  fur  wasn't  good  for  much." 

"  Tlie  fur  of  an  animal  living  in  the  South  is  never 
as  good  as  the  fur  of  the  same  species  living  in  the 
North." 

''  Why  is  that  ?  "  asked  Nat. 


1;  M 


80 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  Because  fur  is  given  animals  to  protect  tlieni  from 
the  cold  ;  the  sunnner  coat  of  a  fur  l)east  is  thin,  as 
you  see  the  summer  coat  of  a  horse  is  short,  com- 
pared to  the  thick  coat  that  grows  out  at  the  first  cold 
weather.  (Look  at  Tom  and  Jerry  and  see  how  woolly 
they  are  now.)  As  it  is  never  very  cold  in  the  South, 
the  fur  animals  do  not  iieed  such  thick,  soft  coats  as 
they  do  here,  while  in  Canada  and  northward,  where  tlie 
winter  is  far  longer  and  colder  than  with  us,  the  fur 
is  heavier  yet." 

"  There  is  a  word  I've  heard  hunters  use  for  the  fur 
of  animals,  the  same  as  plumage  means  the  feathers  of 
birds,  only  I've  forgotten  it,"  said  llap. 

"Pelage,  is  it  not?  Jt  comes  from  peau  (pelt), 
which  means  furry  skin  ,  a  skin  used  for  the  leatlier 
instead  of  fur  is  called  a  hide." 

Two  men  stepped  across  the  road,  with  what  looked 
like  Rabbits  and  Grouse  hanging  over  their  shoulders, 
but  slunk  into  the  shadow  of  some  bushes  when  tliey 
saw  the  wagon. 

"Pot  hunters,  I  know,"  said  Mr.  lllake,  "snarin},' 
and  trapping,  as  usual." 

"  How  do  you  know  they  trapped  the  birds,  daddy?" 
said  Nat. 

"  Because  they  had  no  guns  and  liid  when  they  saw 
us.  IF  you  watch  vood  life  much,  my  boy,  you  will  soon 
learn  to  see  the  reaxou  why  for  tilings,  and  it  is  vinv 
often  tiie  reason  that  helps  you  to  see  the  thing  itself." 

"  Iloo-lioo-hoooo  I  "  came  a  cry  from  over  a  verv 
dark  bit  of  road  tlnougli   wiiieii  they  were  going. 

"Nat,  there  is  one  of  your  friends,  —  the  (Jreiil 
Horned  Owl,"  said  tlie   Doctor. 


OUT-nOOll   COOKERY 


81 


''  What  is  that  —  a  Skunk  ?  "  asked  Olive,  as  soine- 
tliing  bUick  and  white  ran  across  the  road.  "It  is 
striped  so  that  it  hardly  shows  in  the  moonlight." 

''  Yes ;  a  Skunk,  or  rather  what  T(»mniy  Anne  calls 
a  'Scent  Cat.'  There  is  a  great  deal  of  argument  as 
to  whether  its  black  and  white  coat  protects  it  or  not." 

"  I  should  say  that  it  certainly  did  i)rotect  it  on 
moonlight  nights,  but  not  on  very  dark  nights,"  said 
Mr.    Blake. 

"  I  shouldn't  think  that  would  count ;  on  dark  nights 
you  couldn't  see  it  at  all  —  oidy  smell  it,"  said  Dodo, 
and  then  every  one  laughed  at  her  matter-of-fact  way 
of  looking  at  things. 

lietween  talking  and  listening  to  the  strange  sounds 
of  night,  it  seemed  but  a  short  drive  home.  They 
left  Rap  at  his  gate,  and  soon  the  lamp  on  the  porch 
at  the  farm  was  making  their  eyes  blink,  and  when  the 
children  were  unwrapped  from  tiieir  blankets,  Dodo 
was  really  asleep  in  her  bag. 

"I  might  as  well  be  sleepy  now  as  not,"  she  mur- 
mured, as  her  father  lifted  her  down,  "because  we 
can't  begin  to  lix  our  camp  until  next  Saturday,  can 
we  : 

"Neigh,  n-e-i-g-h  !"  snorted  Timi  and  .lerry,  know- 
ing their  supper  Avas  waiting  for  them  at  the  barn, 
hut  Dodo  was  so  sleepy  that  she  thought  they  were 
answering  her. 


Hl^ 


VII 


CAMP   SATUHDAY 


I 


IIUIAPS   you    expect   tluit   the  chil- 
dren iinnieduitely  began  to  tease  tliu 
Doctor   about   their   indoor  cain[) ; 
hut  more  than  a  week  passed,  after 
/^  }:^g::x^       their  visit  to  Nez,  before  they  had 
l/lM  ^SES^Kk!^     t^'"*^    even    to    think   about   tlieir 

uncle's  promise.  Tiie  next  Sat- 
urday they  went  ehestnutting,  iind 
o  it  was  the  first  part  of  NoveinluT 
when  a  cohl,  cloudy  day  drove  the 
children  indoors  and  made  them  knock  on  the  door  of 
the  wonder  room  in  (piest  of  their  inicle,  much  as  they 
had  done  six  months  before,  when  they  were  dispuliuj,' 
as  to  whetiier  or  not  a  bird  was  an  animal. 

''We've  been  trying  to  get  into  the  old  kitclicii, 
but  the  door  is  locked,  and  tiiere  are  great  tigiit  slnit- 
ters  at  all  the  windows,"  said  Dodo,  before  she  iiiid 
fairly  crossed  the  threshold. 

''Which  nu'iins,  I  su[)pose,"  said  the  Dotitor,  "tiiiit 
you  are  ready  to  make  camp  and  wisii  me  to  lielj)  you. 
I  had  been  wondering  how  long  it,  w(tuld  be  bcfoic 
you  asked  nu^  to  keep  my  promise.  Go  and  liiul 
Olive,  wliile   I   get  the  key." 

This  old   sunnner   kitchen  was   joined   on  one  side 

88 


CAMP   SATURDAY 


88 


i'i. 


to  the  main  liouse  by  a  covered  passageway,  and  was 
quite  like  a  separate  bnilding.  Wlien  the  Doctor 
unlocked  the  door,  the  light  was  so  dim  tiiat  all  the 
children  could  see  was  the  outline  of  an  enornujus 
chimney,  that  seemed  to  be  quite  in  the  centre  of  the 
room.  In  a  moment,  however,  Hod  came  in  and  threw 
open  the  shutters. 

"  Why,  father,"  said  Olive,  "  1  never  saw  such  a 
cliinuiey  anywhere  before.  How  did  it  come  here? 
Was  it  put  up  first  and  then  the  room  built  around  it?" 

Indeed,  the  chinniey  was  almost  as  large  as  a  small 
room  ;  the  open  lire[)lace  on  one  ^.ide  would  allow  half 
11  dozen  people  to  sit  around  the  lire,  while  on  the  oppo- 
site part  there  was  a  little  iron  door. 

"'•  VV^iat  is  this  ?"  asked  Dodo,  pro!ni)tly  opening  it. 

"That  was  the  brick  oven  where  the  pies  and  bread 
used  to  be  baked  in  the  olden  time." 

"  But  it  has  a  stone  floor  and  is  so  far  from  the  tire  1 
should  think  it  would  have  taken  most  forever  for  the 
heut  to  have  gone  through  ;  and  it's  very  big." 

"The  heat  didn't  come  from  the  lireplace,"  said 
Olive.  '"  l*e()i)le  used  to  lill  the  oven  witii  wood,  a 
^nciit  many  hours  before  they  wanted  to  bake,  and  then 
wlien  the  stones  were  very  hot  they  would  sweej)  out 
ill!  the  cinders  and  ashes  and  po[)  in  the  bread  and 
things.  The  oven  was  nnide  large  so  that  they  might 
siive  trouble  by  baking  a  (luantity  of  food  at  once." 

"  Why,  then,  in  those  old  times  living  was  something 
like  I'iMuping  out,  wasn't  it,  rncle  l{oy?*'  said  Nat. 

"Very  nuu'h,  but  it  made  the  ju-opU'  ([uiek-witted, 
hiiidy,  and  self-reliant,  ready  for  any  emergency  that 
might  happen,  just  as  the  wihl  out-(h»or  life  (h)es.*' 


84 


FO  UR-FOO  TED  A  M  ERIC  AN  S 


"Oh,  look  at  the  floor  I  "  exchiimed  Dodo;  "it's 
made  of  bricks  set  in  a  wiggly  pattern,  with  sand  in 
the  cracks ;  and  the  beams  show  overhead,  and  ther(j"s 
no  plaster  on  the  walls." 

"I  think  we  coidd  make  a  really  wild-looking  place 
of  this,  if  we  only  had  some  skins,  and  antlers,  and 
guns,  and  such  things,"  said  Olive,  walking  about  the 
room  quite  as  much  excited  as  lier  little  cousins. 

Rod  had  taken  all  the  rubbish  away  and  made  the 
room  clean,  but  the  Doctor  wished  tl»e  young  people  to 
have  the  pleasure  of  fitting  it  up  themselves. 

"Come  up  in  the  attic  and  out  in  the  hunber  room  in 
the  barn,  and  I  think  we  shall  Hnd  what  we  need  ;  mean- 
while Rod  will  start  a  tire." 

In  half  an  hour  or  so  the  [)rocessi()n  returned,  every 
one  carrying  something,  whih;  Mr.  IMake  and  the 
Doctor  brought  in  an  ohl-fashioned  settle  —  a  sort  of 
table  with  a  top  tiiat  ti[)s  baciv  and  a  box  underneatii, 
making  a  very  comfortable  seat.  This  they  placed  in 
the  middle  of  tlie  room  facing  tiie  tire,  and  then  went 
back  for  two  long  bencljcs,  such  as  were  once  used  in 
country  schools. 

"May  we  have  one  duiir  witli  a  back  for  motlier  to 
use  wlien  slie  comes?"  asked  Dodo,  who  liad  been 
told  that  in  a  real  camp  tiiere  was  little  or  no  furni- 
ture. 

"Aren't  tliere  to  be  any  bunks?"  j)h'ad(Ml  Nat. 
"  Kaj)  and  1  ti»ought  we  siiould  like  to  try  sleeping  (»nt 
here  some  time." 

"Not  so  fast,"  said  tiie  Doctor.  "  Here,  Olive,  I  will 
drive  sonu^  nails  in  the  chimiuiy  cracks  and  you  can 
hang  up  the   pots  and  pans  and  tin  (Mips,  for  you  will 


CAMP  SATURDAY 


85 


use  the  same  kit  tliat  we  took  to  the  ,.'ootls.  Now  for 
tlu!  skins,"  {111(1  tlie  Doctor  be<*'aii  to  unroll  several 
biuidles  that  smelt  of  eamphor,  which  liatl  lilled  the 
bio;oest  cedar  chest  in  the  attic. 

"  Beast  skins ! "  said  Nat,  "  all  kinds,  shaggy,  and 
bushy,  and  hairy.  Oh,  do  tell  us  what  they  belong  to, 
uncle  / 

"  Not  now  ;  we  will  hang  them  up  around  our  camp, 
and  you  shall  learn  about  each  in  turn,  for  tliough  some 
are  but  fragments,  every  one  has  a  story." 

''Do  tljose  horns  that  papa  is  bringing  belong  with 
llie  skins?"  asked  Dodo,  as  Mr.  lilake  bnmght  in  a 
pair  of  smooth,  curved  horns,  like  those  of  some  enor- 
mous bull,  and  also  a  pair  of  branching  antlers  that 
ended  in  little  twig-like  points. 

"Tlie  smooth  horns  belong  with  this  shaggy  skin," 
said  the  Doctor.  "  I  will  fasten  them  up  over  the  iire- 
place.  Have  you  ever  seen  a  beast  with  such  a  coat 
and  horns  ?  " 

"They  might  belong  to  a  big  wild  cow,"  said  Nat. 

"I  know,"  said  Dodo.  "  Oh,  Nat,  why  didn't  you 
(ifuess  the  Wild  West  Show  and  the  Buffaloes?" 

"  Here  are  a  lot  of  little  skins,  like  S(juirrels'  with- 
out nnu'h  tail,  and  one  like  a  big,  strijied  ])ussy  cat. 
Oil.  how  can  we  wait  to  liear  about  tliCm  all  I  I  sliall 
ki'i'p  wondering  and  guessing.  It's  worse  than  the 
puz/les  in  »SV.  Nirliohix.  What  a  glorious  lire,  too, — 
lis  big  as  the  one  Ne/  made  in  the  wood  ;  and  there  is 
a  book  that  swings  out  to  hold  the  kettle,  so  when  we 
want  to  cook,  we  oidy  have  to  fix  two  logs  to  hold  the 
pots  the  same  as  Nez  did.  But  there  are  not  enough 
asbes  to  bury  potatoes." 


86 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


m^m 


m 


"We  can  save  the  ashes,"  said  Olive,  "until  we 
have  a  great  heap  of  them." 

"So  we  can,  and  these  benches  go  into  the  chimney 
on  each  side,  so  we  can  sit  in  there  if  it  grows  cold,  or 
if  we  need  to  watch  the  cooking." 

"  Now  some  hooks  and  nails  in  that  corner  for  your 
mop,  dish-rags,  and  dish-pan,  and  you  are  ready  for 
housekeeping,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  All  except  tiie  broom,"  said  Olive.  "  Nez  h;ul 
fresh  hemlock  twigs  tied  to  a  stick ;  but  the  hendocks 
are  too  scarce  here  to  be  used  in  that  way." 

"  I  will  tell  Rod  to  tie  you  a  birch  broom.  That  is 
what  Grandma  Hunter  always  used  on  this  sanded 
brick  floor.  If  there  is  anything  else  wanting,  you 
can  look  for  it  yourselves." 

Long  before  they  had  finished  admiring  their  cainp 
the  dinner  bell  rang,  and  they  hurried  to  tidy  them- 
selves, wondering  how  the  morning  had  galloped  away. 
Nat,  who  c(mld  hardly  finisli  his  pudding  before  going 
back  to  camp,  came  running  in,  his  eyes  ablaze  with 
questions. 

"  Daddy  I  daddy !  Rod  has  taken  your  gun  rack 
from  the  back  entry  into  camp,  and  there  is  a  little 
rifle  in  it  that  I've  never  seen  before ;  and  when 
I  asked  him  what  it  was  for,  he  said,  '  For  you  and 
Rap  to  hunt  big  game  with.'  I  told  him  that  there 
wasn't  any  big  game  near  here,  and  lie  said  :  '  Yes. 
tlicn^s  a  Deer  down  between  the  birches  in  the  lonij 
[)asture.  1  saw  it  tiiere  just  now.'  Won't  you  please 
come  and  see,  (juick,  beft)re  it  gets  away;  though  I 
don't  think  it  would  be  nice  to  shoot  it,  for  it's  com- 
pany, and  there's  only  one,  and  we  can't  even  pretend 


that  we  n€ 
aw  ay. " 

"  I  don' 
that  you  si 
Olive  lo 
tohl  nothi] 
ured,  "I  i 
brought  to 

"No,  it 
he  so  cruel 
"  Don't  y 
of  talking? 
tlie  hill  no\ 
first  shot." 
"  I  see  it ! 
lionis,  I  me; 
donkey's, 
right  agains 
"Oh,  it's 
"It  has  g 
"Ves,  it 
"  We  might 
self." 

"It  is  be 
Olive,  as  th( 
between  the 
target  shaj)e 

'^o  it  was. 
iIh'ii    fastenc 
tiisliioii  of 
little  and   ci 
painted  so  t 


CAMP  SATURDAY 


87 


tli.it  we  need  it  for  food.  Please  hurry,  or  it  may  run 
iiway." 

''  1  don't  think  it  will  go,  and  I  am  quite  willing 
tliiit  you  should  shoot  it,"  said  the  Doctor. 

Olive  looked  at  her  father  in  surprise,  but  his  face 
told  nothing.  Dodo  suspected  something,  and  vent- 
ured, "  I  think  it  must  be  a  tame  Deer  you  have 
brought  to  teach  us  with." 

''No,  it  can't  be,"  said  Nat.  "Uncle  would  never 
be  so  cruel  as  to  shut  up  a  tame  Deer  to  be  shot." 

"•  Don't  you  think  we  had  better  go  and  see,  instead 
of  talking?"  said  Mr.  Hlake.  "There  goes  Kod  down 
the  hill  now.  Who  knows  but  what  lie  will  get  the 
lirst  shot." 

"I  see  it !  "  cried  Nat;  "a  real  big  Deer  with  curly 
horns,  I  mean  antlers,  and  a  skin  al)out  the  color  of  a 
donkey's.  See,  Olive,  it  stfinds  between  the  birches 
ri^ht  against  the  side  hill." 

''Oh,  it's  moving,"  wailed  Dodo. 

"  It  has  gone,      liod  has  frightened  it,"  shouted  Nat. 

"  Yes,  it  has  disappeared,  surely,"  said  the  Doctor, 
"  We  miglit  go  and  see  what  Kod  has  to  say  for  him- 
self." 

"It  is  behind  the  trees,  I  can  see  its  legs,"  said 
Olive,  as  they  reached  the  pasture.  "  It's  backing  in 
between  the  trees  again.  Why,  father,  it's  a  big 
target  shapc^l  like  a  Deor  !  " 

So  it  was.  The  animal  was  first  sawed  out  of  wood, 
then  fastened  togetlier  with  movable  legs,  after  the 
fashion  of  a  jumping  Jack.  Tlien  it  was  paddeil  a 
little  and  covered  with  stout  sail-cloth,  which  was 
painted  so  that  at  a  short  distance  it   really  looked 


^■i  ■ 


i    ■ : 


''s 


88 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Uimi 


m 


like  the  {iniiuiil  itself.  The  cleverest  thing"  ahout  it 
was  the  way  in  which  it  hnng  by  cords,  from  a  pole 
fastened  between  the  trees,  in  such  a  way  that  it  could 
be  pulled  to  and  fro,  so  that  the  marksman  could  liuve 
the  excitement  of  shooting  at  a  moving  object. 

"  Who  made  it  ? "  asked  Dodo,  after  they  had 
recovered  from  their  surprise.  "  It  looks  very  like 
one  of  the  animals  in  my  Noah's  Ark,  only  bigger." 

"I  did,"  said  Mr.  Blake;  "and  it  is  the  common 
American  Deer,  though  I  suspected  your  uncle  would 
ask  if  it  was  a  Rhinoceros." 

"  Oh,  no,  daddy ;  it  isn't  as  queer  as  that,"  said 
Nat,  wondering  why  his  uncle  laughed  so.  "It  will 
be  bully  —  no,  I  mean  jolly  —  to  shoot  at ;  and  when 
we've  plunked  it  all  to  pieces,  perhaps  you  would 
make  us  a  liear  or  a  Wild  Cat,  so  th{it  we  can  tell 
where  to  shoot  each  one.  Please,  could  I  have  the 
little  gun  and  try  now  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  Rod  will  bring  it.  There,  isn't  it  a  beauty  ? 
A  Ballard  repeater  !  See  how  the  lock  drops,  and 
you  put  in  the  cartridges  so.  Stop  !  that  will  never 
do  ;  you  were  pointing  the  barrel  almost  at  Dodo. 
The  first  thing  you  must  remember  about  a  gun  is 
7iever  to  point  it  at  any  one,  even  if  you  are  sure  it  is 
not  loaded  ;  and  the  second  thing  is  always  to  drop  the 
lock  and  make  sure  it  is  empty  before  you  put  it  away. 

"  Now  watch  me  piit  in  the  cartridges.  So,  now 
close  the  lock  and  pull  the  trigger  back  half-way, 
put  tlie  butt  against  your  right  shouhler,  so,  bring 
that  little  i)inhole  sight,  on  your  gun  barrel,  in  a 
straight  line  between  your  eye  and  the  Deer  back  of 
its  shoulder.     Now,  hold  fast  and  pidl  the  trigger." 


CAMP  SATURDAY 


89 


IJang  !  Dodo  screamed  and  put  her  fingers  in  her 
ears.  Nat  looked  eagerly,  fully  expecting  to  have 
blown  the  Deer  to  bits,  but  he  had  not  touched  it. 

"  You  shut  your  eyes  tight  and  fired  almost  straight 
up  into  the  sky,"  laughed  Olive,  who  was  quite  a  clever 
shot  herself.  " 

"I  don't  like  a  gun,"  said  Dodo.  "Is  there  any 
kind  of  anything  that  I  could  shoot  at  an  animal 
target,  that  wouldn't  make  such  a  noise  ?  " 

"  A  good  bow  and  some  arrows  are  what  you  need, 
missy,"  said  her  father  ;  "  and  I'll  make  you  a  beauti- 
ful, fat  pig  for  a  target.  Cbme  up  to  the  barn  and 
I'll  do  it  now." 

\xi  a  few  minutes  Mr.  Blake  had  filled  a  feed  bag 
hard  Avith  cut  hay,  tied  up  one  of  the  lower  corners 
to  make  a  curly  tail,  made  ears  of  corn  husks,  a  face 
of  a  huge  beet,  and  legs  of  corn-cobs. 

"Now,  Dodo,  I'll  put  this  in  a  nice  place  against 
the  stone  fence,  where  it  can't  fall  over  if  it  gets 
tired  of  standing,  and  you  may  shoot  to  your  heart's 
content.  You  can  play  that  it  is  a  Peccary,  —  the  wild 
American  cousin  of  Sausage  and  all  other  farm  pigs." 

"  Are  there  any  about  here  ?  " 

"Oh,  no  ;  fortunately  for  us,  they  live  now  in  small 
herds  down  on  tlie  southeast  plains  of  Texas  and  west- 
ward along  the  Alexican  border,  for  they  are  ugly, 
savage,  slab-sided  little  wild  pigs,  with  a  light  collar 
around  the  neck  like  a  rope  mark,  sly,  keen  e^^es,  and 
a  pair  of  small  tusks  sharp  enough  to  cut  a  man's  leg 
\\\  the  thickest  part,  or  rip  the  tliroat  of  any  i)oor  dog 
who  is  forced  to  hunt  them.  Owvc  they  were  plenti- 
ful enough  to  be  of  value  for  their  liides  and  bristles. 


00 


FO  UR-FOOTED   A  ME  RICA  NS 


III 


juid   liuiiting  them  is  still  considered   good    sport   by 
some  people. 

"The  Peccary  looks  innocent  enough  as  it  walks 
along  on  the  points  of  its  hoofs,  or  wallows  in  the 
shady  marshes  of  the  river  bottoms,  its  mouth  gapijig 
in  a  foolish  fashion  ;  but  if  it  sees  you  —  watch  out. 
If  your  gun  misses,  you  had  better  run,  even  if  ycju 
have  to  take  to  a  cactus  patch,  for,  appropriately 
enough,  prickles  and  Peccaries  grow  in  the  same  places, 
and  they  are  both  painful  things  to  encounter." 

Dodo  was  delighted  to  think  her  target  was  a  wild 
cousin  of  Sausage's,  and  flew  into  the  house  to  tell  lier 
mother  and  promise  her  the  first  shot  at  the  Peccary, 
as  soon  as  she  should  have  her  bow  and  arrows.  Then 
she  flew  out  again  to  coax  her  father  to  make  her  a  good 
tight  bow,  which  he  soon  did  out  of  a  hickory  sapling 
and  some  of  his  pet  fish-line.  Nat,  who  meanwhile  dis- 
appeared, soon  returned  with  Rap,  and  everything  had 
to  be  shown  and  explained  once  more. 

Rap  handled  the  rifle  very  carefully,  as  one  having 
had  experience,  and  then  took  up  the  other  small  guii 
which  Nat  had  overlooked. 

"  How  is  it  different  from  the  other  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"It  lias  two  barrels  instead  of  one,"  said  Rap,  "and 
the  cartridges  hold  a  lot  of  shot  instead  of  bullets.  It 
is  for  shooting  little  things." 

"  Why  is  a  lot  of  shot  better  than  a  good  bullet?" 
asked  Nat. 

"Shot  spreads  out,  and  is  more  likely  to  liit  a  sniiill 
object  than  a  bullet  tliat  only  strikes  in  one  ))l;u*e. 
If  we  ever  go  up  to  see  Nez  and  hunt  Rabl)its,  this  is 
the  gun  we  siiall  need,"  said  the  Doctor. 


\. 


'J 


\ 


:-^-i 


^ 


iJfl 


^^ 


tu   . 

%. 

■^ 

ir>" 

^ 

f'luV' 

m 


After 
ill  hittiii| 
earnest,  i 

"  Hush 
the  corn( 
company 
the  heart 
common 


II 


1 1 


eyes  it  has 
white,  like 

The  Mo 
wash  its  fa 
Olive  tiptc 

"  It  is  a 
tor,  "so  C{ 
right,  it  is 
in  some  pi 


f  M 


CAMP  SATUIWAY 


»1 


After  they  had  practised  awhile.  Rap  had  succeeded 
ill  hitting  the  Deer  twice,  but  it  now  l)egan  to  rain  in 
earnest,  and  they  returniMl  to  the  cuinp. 

"  Hush  I  "  said  Dodo,  as  they  were  coming  through 
the  corner  door  toward  the  firephice.  "  See,  we  liave 
company  !  Look  at  that  Mouse  sitting  by  the  edge  of 
the  hearth ;  it's  as  friendly  as  anything,  and  it  isn't  a 
common    mouse-trap   Mouse,   eitlier.     Look  what   big 


White-footed  or  Deek  Mouse. 

eyes  it  has,  and  a  lovely  brown  back,  and  its  feet  are 
white,  like  clean  stockings." 

The  Mouse  sat  up  and  began  to  clean  its  paws  and 
wash  its  face  daintily,  while  the  children  watched  it  and 
Olive  tiptoed  out  to  call  her  father. 

"  It  is  a  White-footed  or  Deer  Mouse,"  said  the  Doc- 
tor, "  so  called  because  it  has  a  tawny  back.  Dodo  is 
right,  it  is  not  a  '  common  mouse-trap  Mouse,'  though 
in  some  places  it  does  often  live  in  our  houses.     It  also 


in 


92 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


makes  its  nests  under  tree  roots  and  sometimes  in  old 
birds'  nests.  I  will  set  a  trap  for  it,  and  then  we  can 
look  at  it  closely." 

"  Yes,  uncle,  but  please  not  a  choke  trap ;  it's  too 
pretty.  We  could  look  at  it  ever  so  much  better  if  we 
caught  it  in  one  of  those  little  house-traps,  with  a  wheel 
for  it  to  run  around  in  —  that  they  sell  at  the  store.  I 
can  shake  enough  money  out  of  my  bank  to  buy  one, 
because  I  haven't  shaken  it  for  nearly  two  months." 

"  No  need  of  that ;  there  are  some  old  traps  up  garret 
that  Rod  may  clean  for  you,  and  a  Squirrel  cage  too,  I 
think.  I  am  willing  for  you  to  have  a  few  such  winter 
pets  here  in  camp,  if  you  care  for  them  properly.  It  is 
no  haiai  to  keep  a  Squirrel  or  a  Coon  as  a  well-f<'(l 
captive  in  the  hungry  winter  season,  if  you  let  them 
go  again  before  they  pine  for  freedom.  Remember, 
this  camp  is  to  be  the  place  for  your  treasures,  summer 
and  winter. 

"There  is  plenty  of  room  in  those  empty  dresser 
shelves  for  all  the  sticks  and  stones  and  empty  nests 
you  find,  that  would  only  be  in  the  way  and  make  a 
litter  in  the  house." 

"Mousey  has  gone  down  between  the  bricks!"  ex- 
claimed Dodo.  "  Is  the  Deer  Mouse  a  four-footed 
American,  Uncle  Roy?" 

"Yes,  a  true  native,  but  the  common,  brown  House 
Mouse  and  Rat  are  tlie  children  of  foreign  parents, 
who  sneaked  over  here  like  stowaways,  in  bales  of  mer- 
chandise, and  have  now  spread  from  the  seaports,  like 
tramps,  all  over  the  land. 

"  Hy  the  way,  young  folks,  wiiat  shall  we  call  om 
camp?     It  should  certainly  have  a  name.     You  shall 


CAMP   SATURDAY 


03 


have  first  choice,  Olive,   us   Dodo  iiiiiued  the  wonder 
room." 

*'  We  might  call  it  after  some  animal  that  lives  around 
here,"  suggested  Nat,  as  Olive  hesitated. 

"  Woodchuck  or  Fox  or  Skunk  aren't  nice  names," 
said  Dodo,  "though  we  might  call  it  after  the  Scjuirrels." 

"■  What  is  the  very  wisest,  cleverest  fourfoot  in  our 
America?"  asked  Nat. 

"The  Beaver,"  said  the  Doctor;  "he  thinks,  plans, 
and  works,  and  his  house  is  quite  worthy  of  the  skill  of 
a  two-handed  engineer." 

"  Then  Heaver  would  be  a  good  name  for  the  camp, 
only  there  are  none  hereabout." 

"  It  would  be  if  it  was  a  go-to-school,  working,  wood- 
eiitter's  camp,"  said  Mr.  Blake;  "but  it  is  too  solemn 
a  name  for  a  jolly  holiday  affair  like  this." 

"  I  have  it,"  said  Olive,  the  idea  coming  to  her  as 
Mr.  IMake  spoke  ;   "call  it  Camp  Saturday  !  " 

A  clapping  of  hands  followed,  that  made  the  room 
eclio  and  the  little  Deer  Mouse  shiver  in  his  hole. 

"Let's  begin  now!  We've  had  our  shooting  —  now 
let  us  cook  sup[)er  and  tell  stories!"  cried  Dodo, 
I'ngcrly. 

"  Not  to-day,"  said  the  Doctor  ;  "  your  motlicr  has 
still  some  prci)arat ions  to  make  ;  but  instead  of  waiting 
for  the  first  snow,  as  I  once  said,  wc  will  have  a  big 
jraiue  hunt  a  week  from  to-day  at  two  o'clock,  and  at 
six  we  will  have  our  lirst  supper  in  Canip  Satnrday." 


•  VIII 

EXPLANATION   NIGHT 

Tlie  Brotherhood  of  Beasts 

N  afternoon  spent  in  what  they  called 
hunting  —  sliooting  at  the  targets 
in  the  long  pasture  —  had  given 
them  wonderful  appetites  for 
supper,  or  probably  Dodo  would 
liave  noticed  that  she  had  scorched 
the  cream  toast  a  little,  and  that 
there  were  lumps  in  the  cocoa; 
but  Olive's  omelet,  with  its 
seasoning  of  herbs,  was  as 
delicious  as  an  omelet  can  only  be  when  eaten  directly 
from  the  fire. 

Camp  Saturday  was  fairly  opened,  the  first  supper 
eaten,  the  dislies  all  waslied  and  put  away,  and  tlie 
spider  and  ketlk\s  hung  on  tlieir  nails  behiud  the  ehini- 
ney.  'riic  boys  did  the  disii-wasliiug  and  fed  the  lire. 
as  divisiou  of  labor  is  one  of  the  lii'sl  rules  of  ('ani|» 
living. 

'•  I   woudei'  liow  long   it  will  be  before   I   can   hit  tlic 
Deer  wIumi  it   is  moving'/*'  said  Xat,  who  was  lookini; 
into  the  lire  an.i  tiiiidving  of  tiie  aftei'noon's  sport. 
"Not  bcfori' spring,"  said  I)(»(|o.  positiv(dy  ;    "for  you 

U4 


EXPLANATION  NIGHT 


95 


only  hit  it  once,  !\vay  back  where  it  didn't  hurt  it, 
wlien  it  stood  still,"  speaking  as  if  the  target  was  a  live 
thing;  "but  I  shot  my  Peccary  pretty  nearly  in  the 
heiid." 

This  remark  made  the  others  laugh,  as  Dodo  had 
only  succeeded  in  missing  the  Peccary's  nose  by  an  inch 
or  so. 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  can  shoot  so  well  lying  on  the 
(Tiound,  Uap,"  she  contiiuied.  "  1  should  think  it  would 
squeeze  you  all  up;  but  you  hit  the  Deer  twice." 

''  I  suppose  it's  because  Pve  tried  before,  with  a 
bigger  gun  that  kicked  when  it  went  off,  so  the  little 
one  seemed  very  easy,  and,  even  if  you  have  two  legs, 
you  can  keep  steadier  lying  down  than  standing  up." 

''Who  is  going  to  tell  the  story  to-night  —  you, 
father,  or  Uncle  Jack?"  asked  Olive,  hanging  up  her 
hig  apron  and  taking  her  place  in  the  chimney  nook  ; 
for  though  the  campfire  was  roaring  and  glowing,  the 
far-away  parts  of  the  old  room  were  too  cold  for  sitting 
still,  and  the  young  people  wore  long  coats  which  Mrs. 
lilake  had  made  from  rough  red  and  blue  blankets  — 
a  cross  between  toboggan  suits  and  blanket  wrappers, 
wliit'h  served  not  only  to  keej)  them  very  warm,  but 
prevented  the  wood  sparks  from  setting  lire  to  their 
lighter  clothes. 

"We  shall  not  have  any  stories  to-night,"  said  her 
father:  '^ this  will  be  I'iXplanati(»n  Night — the  explana- 
tion of  the  Mammal  tree,  wiiert^  we  shall  lind  our  four- 
footed  Amerii'ans.  Vou  must  learn  and  reniember 
sitine  tliin<;s  abont  this  tree  before  we  luMrin  to  clind) 
it,  for  when  Nez  and  Olaf  tell  you  stories,  they  may  not 
like  to  bi^  interrupted  by  too  nnmy  (piestions. 


Ml  1  J 


'    1 


96 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"Do  you  remember  the  two  great  divisions  of  the 
animal  kingdom  or  tree,  as  we  call  it?  " 

"  Yes,"  shouted  Rap  and  Nat,  "  trunk  and  branches. 
The  first  animal  was  the  trunk  that  separated  it  from 
the  vegetable  world.  Animals  without  backbones  were 
the  lower  branches  and  animals  with  backbones  the  top 
branches." 

"  And  what  class  of  animals  live  on  the  highest 
branch?" 

"  M  —  mammals,  that  give  ni  —  milk,"  said  Dodo,  so 
quickly  that  the  others  had  no  time  to  answer. 

"  Hecause  this  top  Mannnal  branch  is  so  large,  I  told 
you  that  I  would  make  a  tree  of  it  all  by  itself.  Here 
it  is  :  now  you  can  see  how  man  and  his  blood  brovlieis 
are  related."  So  saying,  the  Doctor  unrolled  a  lon^r 
sheet  of  paper  and  fastened  it  to  a  door,  where  the 
firelight  shone  brightly  on  it. 

"  This  tree  has  several  more  branches  wlien  it  grows 
in  warmer  countries.  You  can  see  where  they  belong: 
two  very  low  down  by  the  trunk,  and  one  up  near  tlie 
top  where  the  Monkeys  live.  This  winter  you  must 
be  content  to  study  the  tree  as  it  grows  nortli  of  tlic 
Oulf  of  Mexico  and  tlie  Rio  (irande,  up  to  tlie  land  of 
snow  and  the  northern  lights.  Nat,  go  to  the  wonder 
room  and  bring  me  the  map  of  Nortli  America  that 
liangs  there.  We  will  luing  it  on  one  Hi(h^  of  llic 
aniniiii  tree. 

"  Vou  see  that  tin;  Hio  (Jrandc  is  tlie  liver  thai 
bounds  the  United  States  on  the  southwest,  and  the  lew 
branches  that  are  cut  from  ()}tr  tree  Ix^long  to  the  tropi- 
cal animals  that  only  stray  north  of  this  river  by  men 
accident. 


■m  ■■; 

■if:  i 


,    i  i' 


North  American  Mammai,  Thkk.  nhowino  thf,  Chipf  Brant hrs. 


11 


1)7 


98 


FO  UIl-FOO TED  A MElilCA NS 


"  Of  course  in  eliinbing  this  tree  we  shall  only  find 
the  living  Mammals,  the  extinct  species  belong  to  uu. 
other  branch  of  study." 

"What  are  'stinct  animals  ?"  asked  Dodo.        > 

"(lone  out  ones,  1  guess,"  said  Kap,  "because  'stin- 
guishing  a  candle  means  putting  it  out." 

"  Make  the  word  <^.rtinguish  and  you  will  be  perfectly 
right,  my  boy,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  I  suppose  the  ones  that  are  dead  looked  like  the 
live  ones,  didn't  they  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"  By  extinct  animals  the  Wise  Men  mean  not  merely 
those  that  are  dead,  but  those  that  lived  so  long  ago 
that  even  their  exact  pattern  has  disappeared  from  the 
earth,  better  designs  having  replaced  them."       i 

"  Then  how  does  anybody  know  about  them  ? " 
asked  Rap.     "  By  reading  in  books,  I  suppose." 

"  These  animals  had  passed  away  before  there  were  I 
any  books,  and  l)efore  man,  as  we  know  him,  wasliviiii,' 
on  the  eartli ;  so  all  we  can  know  about  them  mu.stl)i'| 
learned  from  tlie  skeletons  that  are  found  buried  lie- 
neath  tlie  eartii,  and  in  the  rocks  and  beds  of  old-tinit 
clay  and  silt.  Tiie  study  of  these  bones  is  ciillcd 
Pala'ontology." 

'•  How  could  their  bones  get  into  hard  rock  ?"  asked 
Rap  and  Nat  almost  together. 

'"Tliat  (pu'stion  has  a,  very  long  answer,  and  belont,« 
to  the  story  <»!"  wlicn  tlie  eartli  was  young  ;  but  it  willj 
help  you  to  remember  this  much  :  — 

"The  earth  was  once  a  liery  ball  of  gases  like  thcsiiii 
The  time  ciinie  when  i(  was  needed  hy  tlie  Mind  thai 
plans  and  sets  everything  in  motion,  .iitl  He  begaiin 
develop  it  l)y  degrtu-s  iis    He   does  everything;   tor  ii: 


Hi.s  realm  i 
out  a  reaso 
(Trowth  of  ( 
know  took 
there  was  ii 
when  it  cog 
''After   ) 
needed,  the 
but  the  surj 
heating  and 
cracks   in  t 
l)een ;    fores 
life  was  clia 
growing  of 
11  home  for 
—  living  on 
he  sure,    bi 
hrotliers  by 
soul. 

-  The  diff 
its  vegetabh 
hy  digging 
would  cut  t 
study  about 
the  two-han 
sees  from  th 
subjects  am 
h^gs,  tli(»iigh 
''  Ihit,  fat 
•'Vei-  !)(>  any 
"I'liere  n 
I  hose  we  kiw 


EXPLANATION  NIGHT 


99 


His  realm  there  is  no  trickery  or  magic,  nothing  with- 
out a  reason,  nothing  snchlen  or  unforeseen.  So  this 
oTowth  of  our  phinet  from  a  fiery  ball  to  the  earth  we 
iviiow  took  millions  of  what  we  call  years,  and,  at  first, 
there  was  no  plant  life,  but  only  a  molten  mass  which, 
wlicn  it  cooled,  turned  to  rock,  making  a  crust.         f 

"  After  a  long  time,  when  the  first  animals  were 
needed,  they  were  made  to  suit  the  earth  as  it  was  then  ; 
but  the  surface  of  the  eartli  was  constantly  changing  — 
heating  and  cooling  as  tlie  top  of  a  cake  changes  and 
cracks  in  the  baking.  Land  came  where  water  had 
been :  forests  where  all  was  barren ;  then  the  animal 
life  was  changed  and  changed  again  and  adapted,  always 
jrrowing  of  a  higher  kind,  until  the  earth  was  ready  as 
II  home  for  man  himself,  who  is  the  King  of  Animals, 
—  living  on  the  top  branch  of  the  same  animal  tree  to 
he  sure,  but  separated  and  raised  above  his  blood 
hrotliers  by  wearing  the  image  of  (iod,  which  is  the 
soul. 

"  The  different  periods  through  which  the  earth  and 
its  vegetable  and  animal  life  has  })assed  can  ])e  seen 
hy  digging  down  through  the  earth's  crust  as  you 
would  cut  through  a  layer  cake.  Some  day  we  will 
study  about  this,  but  now  we  must  return  to  Man, 
the  two-handed,  two-legged  King,  and  look  at  what  he 
sees  from  the  top  of  his  tree,  as  he  looks  down  on  his 
sul»j('(!ts  and  blood  brotliers,  most  of  whom  have  four 
lejTs,  (liough  sonn^  as  you  will  see,  liave  none  at  all." 

"  Ihit,  father,"  asked  Olive,  "do  you  think  there  will 
t'ver  be  any  higher  sort  of  animal  than  man?" 

"There  may  be  a  more  perl'iict  race  of  men  than 
lliosc  we  know  :   for  of  tii(!  living  races  some  are  more 


100 


FOUR-FOOT KI)  AMERICA NS 


elevated  aiul  spiritual  than  others,  and  everything  in 
the  great  Phm  moves  upward." 

"  You  have  made  a  picture  of  an  Indian  on  tiie  top 
branch  of  our  Mammal  tree,  but  there  aren't  so  many  of 
them  alive  now  as  of  us,  are  there  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  No,  my  boy,  I  put  him  there  because,  speaking"  cor- 
rectly,  he  is  a  native  American  like  tlie  fourfoots  ;  l)ut 
a  great  change  is  coming  over  the  tree.  Some  of  its 
lower  branches  are  dying  off,  as  well  as  the  top  brandi, 
and  of  these  ciianges  and  their  reasons  I  hope  you  will 
learn  from  our  campfire  stories." 

Tiie  children  looked  at  the  map  for  some  time,  read- 
ing tiie  names  on  the  branches,  tracing  with  their  lin- 
gers the  different  twigs  and  the  outlines  of  the  animals 
in  which  they  ended. 

Finally  Nat  asked,  "  Is  there  anything  else  in  which 
Manunals  are  alike  except  that  they  have  warm  red 
blood  and  luu'se  their  young?" 

"■  If  you  should  look  at  the  skeleton  of  a  cat,  a  bear. 
a  horse,  and  a  man,  you  would  see  that  in  the  skeletons 
of  all  these  Mannnals  the  [dan  is  much  the  same,  dif- 
ferent [)arts  being  developed  to  suit  tlie  way  in  whidi 
tiie  members  of  each  family  move  or  get  their  food. 

"•The  (inawers  have  strong,  square  teeth,  the  digovis 
powerful  fore  paws,  the  Leapcrs  strong,  long  liind  Icus. 
tiie  Swimmers  webbed  hind  feet  and  tails  like  paddles. 
and  so  on,  and  remember  that  all  Manunals  are  more  (U 
less  covered  with  hair." 

"Covered  with  hair?  I  never  tliought  of  that.  Is 
fur,  hair  ?  "  asked  Hap. 

"  Kur,  liair,  and  wool  are  nally  all  the  same  thiin^s. 
deveh>[)cd  in  dirfcreut  ways,  though  they  iocdv  luiliko, 


1  /{ 


EXPLANATION  NIGHT 


101 


Tlif  liiiir  of  a  horse  is  harsh,  of  a  cat  soft,  of  a  ^Iiisk- 
lat  the  longer  liair  is  stiff  and  wiry  and  the  under-coat 
soft,  and  what  we  call  furry.  You  know  that  the  hair 
oil  ii  baby's  head  is  soft  and  downy,  and  not  sharp  as  it 
(.rows  to  be  later  on. 

••Tliere  are  quite  a  number  of  other  things  that  the 
Maiiinials  have  in  common  with  King  Man.  They  have 
intelligence,  as  well  as  histinct,  and  they  can  thiidv  and 
reason  also." 

''  I  don't  (piite  understand  abcmt  instinct  and  all 
that,"  said  Uap.  ''  I  know  what  thinking  is,  of  course  ; 
liut  I  thought  that  only  House  People  could  think  and 
talk." 

"Ah,  there  is  where  older  heads  than  yours  make  a 
mistake,"  said  the  Doctor,  stooping  to  pile  uj)  the  fire 
that  was  settling  forward,  adding  a  few  pine  cones  to 
make  it  blaze. 

"Animals  talk,  though  not  in  our  words,  and  they 
have  also  a  language  of  signs  and  smells  that  we  but 
poorly  understand,  although  the  savage  races  and 
l)eo[>le  who  live  much  outdoors  liave  similar  ways,  and 
(•iiii  read  many  things  by  this  sign  language  that  would 
|)ii7//,le  very  intelligent  House  People. 

"  bet  me  see  if  I  can  explain  the  difference  between 
intelligence  and  instinct.  Eating  comes  by  instinct ; 
a  haby  eats  without  thinking,  as  well  as  other  young 
iininials.  An  animal  may  help  itself  to  the  kind  of 
food  that  its  family  is  in  the  hal)it  of  eating,  and  that, 
too,  is  ail  act  of  instinct. 

"  Now  listen,  an  animal  sees  a  bit  of  meat  hanging  in 
ithe  air;   it  is  bait  tied  l)y  a  string  to  a  trap  set  to  kill 
him.     He  does  not  know  this  l>y  insliiu^t,  for  tliis  per- 


;■'  t. 


II 


102 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


!f 


haps  is  the  first  time  man  and  their  traps  have  ever 
been  near  one  of  liis  tribe.  He  takes  the  meat  and  is 
caught,  but  succeeds  in  getting  free  again.  Some  uiii- 
mals  are  so  clever  that  once  liaving  been  cjiught,  or 
having  seen  a  brother  beast  caught,  they  set  to  work  to 
think  out  a  way  of  cutting  the  string  and  getting  the 
meat  without  being  caught  in  the  trap.  This  shows 
reason  and  intelligence,  does  it  not?  " 

"  Why,  of  course  it  does.  Please,  what  fourfoots 
are  clever  enough  for  that  except  Foxes?  They  are 
smarter  than  some  people,"  said  Rap. 

"  You  will  learn  of  these  clever  ones  branch  by 
branch  and  twig  by  twig.  I  am  only  try  lag  to  tell 
you  how  to  start  up  the  tree  to-night.  One  tiling  more 
about  intelligence,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  You  all  of  you 
have  dreamed  sometimes ;  can  you  tell  of  what  dreams 
are  made  ?  " 

No  one  was  in  a  hurry  to  answer,  and  Olive  said : 
"They  are  a  jumble  of  somethi-M>'  that  has  happened 
and  lots  of  things  that  never  have,  but  that  seem  quite 
real." 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  good  answer  ;  for  dreams  are  a  bloiul- 
ing  of  memory  —  the  remembrance  of  something  that 
has  happened  —  and  imagination,  which  is  creatine; 
something.'" 

"  Making  it  up,  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"Yes,  making  up  —  inventing;  so  any  one  wlin 
dreams  must  have  more  or  less  intelligence,  and  nianv 
Mammals  dream." 

"  I  know  they  do  !  "  exclaimed  Nat.  "  Mr.  Wolf 
dreams  and  growls  away  like  everything,  and  the  oilier 
night  Quick  was  sleeping  by  my  bed  and  he  gave  a  lot 


EXPLANATION  NIGHT 


103 


evei- 
11(1  is 
!  ani- 
lit,  or 
)rk  to 
g  the 
sliows 

irfoots 
By  iire 

ch  by 
to  tell 
g  more 
of  you 
dreams 

sakl : 
.ppened 
m  quite 

blcnd- 
lof  tlr.it 
n-eatins:; 


le 

who 

(1 

luanv 

1". 

Wolf 

1.0 

other 

ivc  a  lot 

of  little  sliar[)  harks  like  those  he  gives  at  eats  and 
Woodehiicks,  and  all  the  hair  over  his  haekbone  ruHled 
up :  but  when  I  looked  at  him  his  eyes  were  shut 
tight." 

'•  Mammals  are  of  a  good  many  sizes,  and  move  about 
hi  a  great  many  different  ways, — run  and  lope  and 
jiiinp,  —  but  they  almost  all  have  four  legs,  don't 
they  '.'* "  asked  Map. 

"They  are  of  all  sizes,  from  a  Mouse  of  a  few  inches 
to  the  great  Whales  that  measure  seventy  or  eighty 
feet  in  length,  but  they  are  not  by  any  means  all  pro- 
vided with  four  legs.  Mannnals  are  often  called 
Qiuidruj)eds,  or  four-footed  animals,  and  the  greater 
miinhcr  do  have  four  feet;  but  one  has  two  feet,  Avhile 
others  like  the  Whale  have  no  feet. 

"The  majority  of  Mammals  live  on  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  and  their  lindjs  are  formed  for  walking. 
They  never  have  more  than  two  pairs  of  legs,  and  may 
laek  hind  limbs ;  but  you  will  never  see  them  with  hind 
legs  and  no  fore  limbs." 

"There  are  lots  of  useful  ^lammals,  too,  besides  all 
the  little  nuisance  ones,  aren't  there.  Uncle  Roy?" 
asked  Dodo. 

"  Yes,  surely ;  ^Mammals  are  the  most  useful  of 
all  animals.  They  supply  us  with  meat,  milk,  hides, 
wool,  fur,  horn,  and  ivory.  The  Whale  gives  oil, 
whalebone,  and  spermaceti;  the  hoofed  Mammals  — 
liorses,  oxen,  etc. —  are  draught  animals.  I  want  you 
to  look  at  your  tree  and  I  will  show  you  the  ladder  I 
iiave  made  to  go  with  it.  You  remember  the  way  in 
wliieh  the  Bird  Families  all  walked  together  in  a  pro- 
(eession,  each  wearing  his  Latin  name,  that  the  Wise 


;  '  ( 


104 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMElilCANS 


Men  gave  him,  in  addition  to  his  English  one.  'I'his 
hidder  is  arranged  so  that  when  you  liear  a  story  of  aii 
animal,  you  can  look  at  it  and  see  in  what  family  lie 
belongs,  in  what  guild  he  works,  and  his  place  in  the 
tree.  If  we  ever  make  our  stories  into  a  book  we 
will  put  this  ladder  at  the  end  to  help  little  people  who 
might  not  be  able  to  climb  our  tree  without  it." 

"  Are  those  fourfoots  all  made  into  families  luid 
guilds  ?  How  is  it  done,  by  watching  their  claws  and 
mouths,  what  they  eat,  and  the  way  they  work,  the 
same  as  v/ith  the  birds  ?  " 

"•  Partly,"  said  the  Doctor,  laughing,  "only  it  is  teeth 
and  feet  with  Mammals,  instead  of  bills  and  claws. 

"  The  Wise  JNIen,  by  measuring,  comparing,  and 
studying  the  bones  of  these  Mannnals,  have  divided 
them  into  groups  or  classes,  keei)ing  those  the  most 
like  together.  This  is  called  classification,  and  is  verv 
important.  If  they  had  not  done  this,  you  would  never 
guess,  by  looking  at  pictures  or  at  stuffed  animals  in  a 
Museum,  that  a  Whale  is  one  of  your  blood  brothers 
and  not  a  great  fish  ;  or  that  the  Hat,  that  you  see 
flitting  about  at  twilight,  is  not  a  })ird." 

"  I'm  sure  it  takes  a  lot  of  believing  to  know  that  ii 
Whale  isn't  a  fish  anyway,"  said  Nat.     "Do  Maiunials| 
have  tools  to  work  with  the  same  as  birds  have  chisel 
and  hooked  bills  and  all  that  ?" 

"Yes,  every  Mammal  has  either  a  tool  or  weapon, 
and  sometimes  the  same  thing  answers  for  both,  as  }( 
will  see." 

"  You  need  not  trouble  yourself  with  learning  yoiirj 
ladder  by  heart  all  at  once  ;  but  when  you  have  heard  al 
story  about  an  animal,  go  to  the  ladder  and  it  will  hel 


you  to  fi] 

guild  it  1j 

-Nhall 

1  love  to 

"  Color, 

I  think  nc 

to  see  as  n 

<li'l  of  t]i( 

made    tlie 

jdaiiily  ma 

"Could]] 

then  ?  "  coa 

"  C'ertaiii 

writing  a  ] 

fuiu'-footed, 
belong." 

"How  ml 
liuiidred,  liJ 
"  Seveiitj 
interesting, 
'I'joiit  tliat  n 
"We   ma 
|,?iiilds,   thod 
01'  I)raiiclies, 
Ibelongijio-  t,, 

'■  Pouch  Wean 
1^'-  Sea  Cows 


•  I 


EXPLANATION  NIGHT 


105 


yoii  to  find  on  wliioli  hriuioh  of  the  tree  and  to  what 
ouild  it  heh)no-s.'" 

'•Shall  we  make  tables  as  we  did  about  the  birds? 
1  love  to  write  tlunn,"  said  Dodo. 

'•  Color,  size,  and  all  the  guilds  to  which  they  belong  ? 
I  tliink  not,"  said  the  Doctor  ;  "  for  you  will  not  be  able 
to  see  as  many  of  these  fourfoots  for  yourselves  as  you 
(lid  of  the  birds,  and  that  is  the  reason  wliy  I  have 
miide  the  ladder  with  a  step  in  it  for  each  animal, 
plainly  marked  with  its  size  and  color." 

"  Couldn't  we  write  down  the  names  of  the  guilds, 
tiien?"  coaxed  Dodo. 

"•  C'ertainly  ;  if  you  like,  you  can  end  the  evening  by 
writing  a  list  of  the  guilds  and  groups  to  which  our 
fulu-footed,  no- footed,  and  wing-handed  Americans 
belong." 

*'  I  low  many  Mammals  shall  we  learn  about  —  one 
hundred,  like  tlie  I5irds  ?  " 

"  Seventy-five  ;  I  tliink  that  will  cover  all  the  most 
interesting,  and  I  have  in  my  portfolio  the  pictures  of 
about  that  number  to  show  you. 

"  We  may  divide  our  Manunals  into  eight  chief 
louilds,  though  the  larger  ones  have  several  societies 
or  ])ranches,  and  I  will  give  you  the  name  of  an  animal 
belonging  to  each  guild  to  help  you  remember." 


weapon.] 
h,  as  yuiil 

ling  yout| 
le  lu'-.u'tl 
xvillliflfl 


I.  Pouch  Wearers 


111.  Sea  Cows 


The  feiiiiile.s  of  this  guild  carry  their 
young  in  a  pocket.  ('J'he  Opossum 
belongs  here.) 

Clumsy  water  animals,  who  feed  upon 
water  [dants.  helping  themselves  with 
their  Hipperdike  fore  legs.  Hind  legs 
wanting.     (Manatee.) 


mf  1^. 


106 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


III.   Rollers    .\   ...  =  ..  Salt-wiitcr  Maininals,  whose  fore  limli.s 

iU(!  liiddcn  in  skin  inittcMis.  They  loll 
throii^'li  the  water  and  are  hel[»les,s  on 
hind.      (Whale.) 

1\'.   Hoof  Wearers Swii't-inoving  Mammals,  with  toes  ('oiii- 

])a(;t('d  into  small  ieet,  called  hoofs, 
and  havini;'  their  horns  in  pairs. 
{ii)  Ronlcrs.     With  two  iipiicr  tusks  lik(!  a  Pig.     (IVccary.) 
(fi)  Snlid-linnifd  i'ii<lclitir<rs.     Hard,  hranching,  bony  horns 

like  a  Deer.      (Moose.) 
(f)   Ifol/nir-lionictI  ('inl-c/iiH't'i's.     Hollow,  curved  horns  like  a 
Cow.     (Hntfalo.) 

v..  Gnawers The    largest    guild    among    foiirfoots, 

Animals  with   four  sharp,  front-cut- 
ting  teeth.       .Ml   eat    vegetal»!e  i'ood, 
tlictugh  some  preter  animal.     .1//  tin 
iniisdiii'c  (tnini'th  are  (I'titiircrs, 
(a)   S/i(itlnn'-faili'il   (inaxurs.      Having    upright,   plumy   tails 

((iri.y  Sijuirrel.) 
(h)  liiirrniriiuf  < hidH'i'vti.     Those  who  make  their  home.s  under 

ground.     (Woodchiiek.) 
(r)   Sicinttnin;/  (I'naircrs.     'IMiose  who  spend  ])art  of  their  time 

in  the  water  and  usually  live  near  it.     (Muskrat.) 
{(I)  Loiitf-i'drcil,    S/i(>rN<tili'tl   Gnaicers.      Having  Kahbit-hkn 
ears.     (Wood  Hare.) 

VI.   Flesh  Eaters Mammals  with  four,  long-pointed  dnsi 

like  teeth  for  tearing  nu'at. 
(rt)  Chnr-/i(niili'il  F/isli  ICdtcrs.     Toes  ending  in  movable  ('la\v< 

like  the  house  eats.      (Wildcat.) 
(/>)  Ddi/'IiosciI  F/t'Kli  Fdlers.     With  pointed  mu/,zle.s  and  hark 

ing  calls.     (Kox.) 
(c)   I'liv  (I'ni'di/  (ii'oirli'i's.     Beasts  who  cat  both  meat,  friii  | 

and  vi'getables.     ( Bear.) 
((/)   l.lllh   h'lir  /!( (irrrs.     U'ho  all   yield   fur  of  more  or  li 

value.     (.Mink.) 
(e)    W'nlir  I'lii/ilc.     (Jreat    Mammals   with    flipper-like  liiiil 
living  ehieHy  in  the  water.     (Seal.) 

Vir.   Bug  Biters Hurrowers,    who   kill   harmful   iusect<| 

(Moles.) 


VIII.   Wi 


-  TJies 
I't'iiit'inbe 
tiicro  are 
but  if  y( 
reiiioinbei 
rest  will  1 

spriiiir  aiK 
divide  tlu 
visitors!^ " 

liviiin-  like 
"Niit,  \i 
Miiiiinials 
liiive  a  ivo 
IV'c'diug   g 
parts  of  tl 
Woods  lire 
"alci'wiiys 
will  move 
iiii,!^'rii(i()ii. 

Miiimu'i'  in 
Viillcys  for  t 
''•miiot  cjill 
^ly  wliicji  , 

''•ilVillV,  iilK 

yii'ldiiiLT  fii,. 
<'ili/('ii  |{i,. 


t    ■ 


EX  PL  A  NA  Tloy   NWII  / 


107 


liu\l>s 

ey  roll 

CSS  on 

;s  Cnlll- 

lioot's, 

-i. 

!iiry . ) 

^  horns 

VI II.  Winged  Hunters 


)m'f(iols. 

i)l(>   food, 
.1//  lh< 

my  ti>il> 

llU'S  UlultT 

ic'iv  time 

at.) 

aUbit-lik>' 

nted  do;;- 1 

a\)k'  claw^ 

and  l>i»il> 

»(<ii1.  fnii'l 

,)•('  or  l''"| 

■likf  I'll"' 


Miiiiiiiialswlio  liiiv<'  iiu'iiiltrancs  bet  ween 
the  liiiycrs  of  their  haiuls  url'uro  limbs 
that  form  wings.     (IJats.) 


"Tliese  j«'uil(ls  will  })ei'liaps  be  luirdcr  for  you  to 
leiiieinber  in  tlie  iH'^iiinini^'  lliaii  the  llird  (luilds,  lor 
there  are  more  of  them,  iiiid  they  have  hmger  names, 
hut  if  you  look  at  tlie  tree  and  pietures,  and  try  to 
remember  one  animal  that  belongs  to  eaeh  guild,  all  the 
rest  will  foUow." 

"  Tnele,"  said  Nat,  "  (lo  our  Mammals  make  long 
si)ring  and  fall  journeys  as  the  birds  do,  and  can  we 
divide  them  into  citizens,  and  summer  citizens,  and 
visitors?  " 

'•Oh,  yes  I  and  d(»  tlu^y  jtay  taxes  and  work  for  their 
living  like  Citizen  IJird?"*  asktMJ  I)(»do. 

"Nat,  your  question  is  easier  lo  answer  than  Dodo's. 
Mainmals  do  not  travel  as  birds  do,  and  few,  if  any, 
liave  a  regidar  time  for  moving  except  to  shift  their 
tVeding  grounds  for  various  reasons.  Of  course,  if 
parts  of  the  country  ari^  settletl   by    House   People,  and 

(Kids  are  cut  down  and  wild   pasture  ploughed   up,  or 


\\( 


waterways  dranu'c 


w 


d.  tl 


le  atnmals  w 


ho  1 


lave   live(l   (here 


ill  move  on  to  new  homi's ;  but  this  is  Jiot  a  I'cgidar 
migration. 

"I'hen,  again,  grass-eating  animals,  who  sju'iid  the 
siiinim;r  in  the;  moiuitains,  come  down  into  sheltered 
valleys  for  the  winter,  and  so  on  ;  but  in  s|)ite  of  this  we 
iiiimot  call  our  Mammals  tiavcllcrs.  It  is  dillicult  to 
siy  which  of  them  are  useful  citizens,  some  uudoubt- 
i'(lly  are,  and  jtay  taxes  by  killing  nuisance  animals,  and 
yielding  fur  or  food,  but  in  a  very  difb-rcnt  way  from 
i('iti/cn  hird,  who  works  irlt/i  us  to  raise  the  crops. 


108 


FOUIi-FOOTKh   A  MKltlt'ANS 


m^' 


"Tliey  were  undoubtedly,  in  tlie  true  sense,  all  oiice 
useful  eitizens  of  the  JJepublic  of  Nature,  when  every 
spoke  AViis  in  plaee  in  the  j*Teiit  ])ahinee-wheel,  and 
man  had  only  the  thin^^'s  that  were  ereated  for  liis 
use,  had  not  invented  anythini^  for  himself,  and  w;is 
called  uneivilized  ;  hut  all  that  was  Ioulj  a^o.  Tliis 
is  ehanc^ed  now,  and  you  will  lind,  when  you  lu;ir 
the  stories,  that  <ifuns  have  driven  away  animals  that 
arrows  could  not  kill,  and  some  beasts,  missin<i^  their 
natural  food,  have  taken  to  eatinc^  things  that  were  not 
intended  for  them,  and  have  become  beasts  of  prey  and  I  ^i 
nuisance  animals. 

"One  thiiiiLf  I  want  you  to  remendx'r.  'I'he  skins  of 
these  Mannnals  were  the  very  lirst  pi'i/es  that  America 
offered  t(>  the  whit(!  ptM)[)le  when  they  came  here  —  llic 
first  wealth  of  th(^  land.  'I'he  trajipers  weri'  of  an 
earlier  tribe  than  the  miners.  The  pelts  of  the  fur 
beasts  brought  money  whihi  the  treasures  of  ^n)ld. 
silver,  c()i)per,  and  coal  were  still  hidden  deep  under 
pronnd.  I5ut  man,  by  killintjf  these  Mammals  waste- 
fully  and  even  duriuL*"  their  breediniif  seasons,  has  made 
them  now  ex{H!t'dinL''lv  rare.  Oik^  bv  on(!  thev  arc 
j:frowiii_L^  fewer  and  shyer,  and  tiie  animals  that  caiiic 
over  seas,  as  wi^  did,  in  the  lonii^  at^'o,  are  liilinL''  their 
i)hices  as  far  as  they  are  al)U).  I'he  lon'^-horned  cattle 
feed  on  the  jtrairies  in  place  (tf  the  I5is(»n,  just  as  iiiu 
houses  stand  on  the  ground  once  occupied  l)y  the  reil- 
nunTs  wiufwam." 

"  liut  it  is  better  to  have  House  I'eople  and  cow- 
in  America  than  saxaj^cs  and  llison,  isn't  it?"  askcil 
(>livc,   who  saw   tliat    tlic  (diildrcn   looked   |iu//,lcd. 

*' VcH,  it  means  proyfrcss,  and  one  (d'   Heart   <)F  Niii 


liic's  law 
ti'('(!  can 
eaitii,  thi 
we  shonh 
as  \\v.  did 
the  n'recd 
vcars  sine 
s('<'ms  as 
rciiJ  two  ( 
riiere 
WHO  was  <i 
The  Moils 
ivw  (h'o]>H 
whisked  a) 
"He  lik. 
uf  roast  sf 
Kvery  oi 
imd  lv\])hi 
I'hcstnuts 
that   the  c 
eoahs. 


EXI'LA  NA  770.V    MdllT 


100 


uif's  laws  is  tliat  iiolliiiiii^  shall  stand  still.  When  a 
ti((!  can  no  loni^nT  i;ri)\v,  it  nuisl  dcray  and  turn  into 
cm  til,  that  sonu^  other  tret;  niay  ti^row'  in  its  place;  but 
should  never  have  kilhMl  tlu;  wild  men  and  beasts 


WC 


US 


we  (Ud,  merely  to  show  our  superior  strenu;tb  and  for 
tlic  orced  of  killinu^.  It  is  oidy  about  four  liundred 
vcius  since  white  men  set  foot  on  this  soil,  and  vt't   it 


sccins  as  if  in  a  huiK 


I  red 


tl 


more  tliere  may  oe  no  more 


real  two  or  four-footed   Americans  left." 
••There  is  the  Deer  MoustMifjfain,'"  whispered  Dodo, 

who  was  <»"rowni!yf  tircMl,  pointinu^  to  the  hearth  corner. 

Tlic  Mouse  t*'athered  U|)  some  crund)s  and   licked  up  a 

few  dro})s  of  water  that  ha<l  fallen  on  the  stones,  then 

whisked  away  aij^ain. 
'•  \\(\  likes  su|>per  hefore  he  goes  to  bed.     Please  can 

we  rttast  some  chestnuts,  I'nch!  Hoy?" 
Kvery  one  hiu_<,died  ;   no  more  n-annnH  whi/  were  asked, 

1111(1   FiXplanation   Nii,dit  ended  merrily  to  the  sound  of 

clicstnuts  snapi)intr   vijjforously  in  a  wire  corn-popper 

tliiit  the  children  took  turns  in  shaking  over  the  hot 

coals. 


IX 


AN   INVITATION 


•" 


i 


Imppily,  on  Monday,  as  slu'  looked  ont  of  tlio  window 
ill  tliu  wondor  room,  into  tiu!  sky  at  dnsk,  and  saw  tlic 
niystorions  llakos  of  the  lirst  snow-storm  llnttciiii!^ 
ilown. 

"  Yes,  it  will  l)o  jolly  I  "  said  Nat.  looking-  n|t  from 
the  l)ook  ho  was  stndyiiiLT:  "  hnt  I  want  to  do  soiiu 
real    sliootinjjc,    too.      liod    says   tlicrc's    lots   of    IJalihii 

Hi^nis  ovt'i*  alonj^   tiic  t'di^n  of  tiic   w I   lot,  wlicrc  Ik 

was  lianlini^  loufs  ycslcfday,  and   lie  found   tlircc  foni 

110 


.LV  lyvriATioN 


111 


l)i'side.  Tlien  there  are  fresh  scratelies  on  tlie  big 
cliestiuit  tree  u[)  by  the  hole  where  the  braiieh  broke, 
and  on  the  eiirtli  l)y  tlie  little  roek  ejives,  and  Rod  says 
tliiit  means  Coons.  Do  yon  thiidv  that  Qniek  would 
make  a  i^ood  ('oon  dog,  daddy  ?  lie  has  an  everlasting 
bark,  and  that's  what  liod  says  yon  need  in  a  Coon 
(log. 

Nat  came  and  stood  with  his  back  to  the  tire,  sjtread- 
iiig  his  hands  between  imaginary  coat  tails,  speaking 
so  earnestly  and  wearing  such  a  s])ortsmun-like  air, 
til, it  his  lather  and  nncle  laughed  outright. 

''What  kind  of  forms  did  Hod  find  in  the  pasture, 
and  what  have  they  to  do  with  Rabbits?"  asked  Dodo, 


look 


ni! 


pu/.z 


led. 


1    thought   forms   were    the    other 


names  for  the  moulds  Miunmy  Hnn  puts  the  jelly  and 
hlanc-nmnge  in  to  harden,  so  when  it's  stiff  and  turns 
(int  it  is  in  a  pretty  shape  instead  of  looking  mussy 
and  wobbling  all  over  the  dish." 

"  Von  are  right  there,"  said  her  father;  ''but  a  Hab- 
Itil's  form  is  (piite  different.  It  is  its  favtu'ite  bed, — 
the  hollow  made  by  it  wiien  it  lies  down  in  the  grass, 
or  among  h'aves  and  litter,  —  which  after  being  used  a 
t\'\v  times  takes  {\\(\foi'tn  of  the  Uabbit's  body." 

"Oh,  I  understand  that,"  said  Dodo,  eagerly  ;  "it'sa 
itahbit  mould,  oidy  instead  of  the  mould  making  thu 
Kaiihit  the  wav  it  docs  with  icily,  thi^  iellv  —  no,  I 
mean  the  Rabbit  — makes  the  mould.  Hut  please,  uncle, 
don't  let  the  boys  shoot  the  little  nearby  animals  on 
tlu'  farm,  because  I  want  to  nnd\c  friends  with  them, 
ami  iiabbits  are  as  fiinnv  and  cunning  as  kittens,  so  I'm 


sure  tlicv  can 


'td 


o  anv  harm 


U'lirn   tlu'   laughtt'i'   had   subsided,   Dr.   Koy   tttok 


a 


112 


FO Uli-FOO TED  A MKlt WANS 


iilR 


letter  from  ti  stmiiii^e,  dirty  envelope  lie  had  been  hold- 
ing in  his  hand,  and  spread  it  on  the  desk  before  him. 

"Here  is  something  that  will  interest  you,  Nat,  and 
provide    you    with    real    shooting    without    disturbinir 
Dodo's  'home   Uabbits/     In   faet,  that  sheet  of  piipcr 
eontains  the  most  tempting   invitation  I've  had  for  u     |     1 
year.     Come  here  and  read  it  to  us,  Olive." 

Olive  h)oked  puzzled  at  first,  as,  sitting  on  the  ai 
of  her  father's  ehair,  she  read  :  — 


111 


FUiKNM*  OK.  nfNTKK:  toiiiette  tliiuks  to  liavc  si  party  for  t  luce 
days  to  hej^in  on  tliisday  olaf  and  part  of  his  onttit  is  condny  over 


she  would   think  it  itrovvd  if  von  wouhl  come   to   it  also  i'l 


y< 


rieiul 


riai'k  Make  and  his  boy  aiul  the  other  hoy  with  the  one  lt\i;'  whicli 
Mill  tind  coons  first  rait  also  fox  trails  and  rahhils  which  arc  io 
many  as  well  as  skunks  she  will  make  the  best  cookin  of  the  frciioli 
which  slie  is  half  you  know  you  need  not  answer  only  come 


Xi:z 


■  s  s  s 


"■  What  does  that  mean?"  asked  Olive,  after  she  had 
spelled  out  this  remarkable  letter,  whieli  had  neither 
connnas,  periods,  nor  eapitals,  pointing  to  three  marks 
like  little  zig-zags  of  lightning  after  his  name. 

"Why,  (hat's  Nez"  blazi'  !  "  said  Mr.  IMiike,  lookini,' 
at  the;  letter  attentively.  "  Don't  you  renuMuber,  Hoy. 
the  mark  he  put  \\\Hm  his  logs  so  that  he  would  kii(»\v 
them  among  those  of  other  (dio[)p('rs,  and  the  sign  lie 
cut  on  trees  when  we  hewed  a  |»ath  so  that  we  should 
know  the  trail  for  our  own?  I  suppose  Nez  has  never 
written  suidi  a  long  lettei-  as  this  Ixd'ore,  and  be  adds 
his  blaze  marks  to  assure  us  tiiat  he  wi'ote  it  himsell 
and  nu'ans  all  he  says." 

"I  call  that  a  lim^  hdter,"  said  Nat,  beaming  with 
satisfaetion.      "Three  days  in  tiie  woods,  hooray  I     Ii 


isn't  late 

of  course 

"  Ther 

Dodo,  "ji 

giving   J 

loine,  am 

Mr.  (iobl 

he  will  Ii 

wiien  yoi 

hunting,  i 

stories  in 

Here  i; 

hrave  blin 

nose  in  a  ] 

"Oh,  D 

"it  is  a  vt 

lie  is  hurt, 

liim  is  eve 

one  at  the 

hurting  so 

"  No-oo, 

you   all    a 

fiii'c  liidde 

"  There 
very  good 

"ho  wish 
you  know 
"  No-oo,' 
"  Ka(d»  a 
Olive. 
'•Oh,  1  J 

'split-tiie-d 


AN   INVITATION 


113 


isn't  late,  may  I  I'uii  down  and  tell  Uap?     I  suppose, 
ut  course,  we  will  go,"  he  added  anxiously. 

"There  is  nothing  about  girls  in  the  letter,"  said 
])()do,  "and  it  will  be  a  dreadfully  unthaidvful  Tlianks- 
^iving  Day  with  only  mother  and  Olive  and  me  at 
lionie,  and  Mammy  IJun  may  say  it  is  wasteful  to  kill 
Mr.  (iobble  only  for  m8,  and  he  is  so  fat  I  don't  tliink 
lie  will  live  till  Ciiristmas.  You  will  all  be  so  tired 
when  you  get  home  Saturday,  and  proud  with  going 
liuuting,  that  you  won't  care  io  cook  supper  and  tell 
stories  in  our  camp." 

Here  Dodo's  voice  broke  into  a  wail,  and  in  spite  of 
brave  blinking,  a  large  round  tear  i)erched  itself  on  her 
nose  in  a  position  where  it  commanded  attention. 

"Oh,  Dodo,"  said  her  uncle,  taking  her  on  his  knee, 
"it  is  a  very  poor  si)ortsman  that  cries  not  oidy  before 
lie  is  hurt,  but  before  the  gun  that  might  possibly  hurt 
liiiu  is  even  loaded.  Cheer  up,  did  you  ever  know  any 
one  at  the  farm  to  make  a  good  time  for  themselves  by 
hurting  somebody  else  ?  " 

"No-oo,  but  I  shouldn't  want  to  be  ])iggy  and  keep 
you  all  at  home,  either,"  murmured  Dodo,  with  her 
fiu'c  hidden  under  her  uncle's  coat-collar. 


Th 


!ful 


lere   is  a  uselui  word  in  our  language 


that 


IS  a 


very  good  plaster  to  curcf  the  ills  of  reasonable  ])eople 
who  wish  to  do  different  things,  it  is  <-oin/>r(nni,se.  Do 
you  know  what  that  means?" 

"No-oo,"  (|uavercd  Dodo. 

"  Kach  agree  and  do  a  /Kirf  of  what  ihey  want,"  said 


(Mivi 


"Oh,  I  know  now,"  said  Nat  ;  "it's  what    iJocl  calls 
^plit-the-difference.' " 


114 


FOUll'FOOTKlj  A MEUKJANS 


I'i  / 


"Exactly,  unci  wc  will  'split  the  difference'  by  stayiiiir 
at  home  with  the  ladies  on  Thiirsday  and  having  Mr. 
Gobble  for  dinner  and  our  story  in  the  evening.  Then 
Friday  we  will  start  for  Nez'  camp,  going  by  rail  to 
Chestnut  Kidge  Station,  and  driviug  over  from  tlieie, 
80  as  to  lose  as  little  time  as  possible  on  the  way." 

Dodo's  face  came  from  under  the  coat-collar,  and  her 
arms  tightened  around  Dr.  Roy's  neck  so  suddenly  tluit 
he  coughed. 

"  Wait  a  minute,  that  is  not  all.  I  think  we  must 
have  a  j)arty  ourselves  before  long  and  invite  all  the 
cam])  people  to  come  down  here.  What  do  you  say  to 
a  ('hristmas  party,  sister  Cherry,  witli  a  tree  and  soiij^.s 
and  Santa  Clans?  Will  it  be  too  much  trouble?  >«()? 
Then  talk  it  over  \/ith  Olive  and  Dodo  while  we  are 
away,  and  decide  what  you  wiint  to  do  and  how  to  do 
it,  and  you  may  put  your  hand  in  my  pocket  for  a  reul 
Christmas  at  Camp  Saturday." 

"  My  pockets  have  something  in  them,  too,"  said  Mr. 
Hlake. 

"Our  l)ank  is  clutking,"  cliimed  in  Nat  and  Dodo. 


I 


X 


MONAllCIIS    IX    KXILE 


EFORE  dusk,  on  Tliaiiksgiviii*:]^  Diiy, 
dinner  was  over,  and  the   family 
liad  all  gathered  in  Camp  Satur- 
day.    Mr.  (lohble,  with  Ids  ehest- 
nnt  stulling,  proved  so  tempt- 
ing that  two  small  people  even 
begged  for  a  third  piece,  and 
every  one  agreed  to  have  oidy 

•  ii'-*-:BMiF^^'''!r-wTf'««M''-      it  Hglit  supper  before  bedtime, 
•  ',..^--      -  .^j^^i  ^^ji  stories  first. 

"Is  Turkey  a  real  American,  or  did  he  eonie  over 
with  House  People  ?  "  asked  Dodo.  "  I  sup[)ose  he  did, 
because  he's  a  farm  bird  and  very  cranky  to  raise.  Rod 
says." 

"  Turkej''  is  not  only  a  true  American,  and  the 
emblem  of  Thanksgiving  Day,  but  our  native  wild 
Turkey  is  the  great-grandfather  of  all  the  other  Tur- 
keys that  live  everywhere  on  farms." 

The  camp  was  (juite  in  order  now,  for  Dr.  Uoy  had 
sent  to  various  phu'cs  for  chests  of  odds  and  ends  that 
had  been  stored  away  and  almost  forgotten.  The 
board  floor  was  nearly  covered  by  the  furry  pelts  of 
various  beasts,  wliile  otiiers  were  fastened  against  the 
walls,   where    some    line    Deer's   heads    spread    their 

116 


116 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


proiiiiied  jiiul  forked  antlers,  and  seemed  to  wink  tlieir 
glass  eyes  as  the  lire  Hiekered,  casting  startling 
shadows. 

"Let's  make  mother  a  throne  by  the  fire,"  said  Nut, 
drawing  out  the  settle. 

"This  old  woolly  co.v  skin  will  mostly  cover  it," 
said  Dodo,  tugging  at  a  Ijundle  that  lay  partly  un- 
folded in  the  corner. 

"  (iently,  gently,"  called  the  Doctor,  coming  to  lii;r 
aid.  ""That  'old  cow  skin'  is  something  that  belonus 
to  the  past  which  I  could  hardly  replace.  It  once 
belonged  to  a  Huffalo  —  that  one  whose  head  is  over 
the  window.  Nat,  take  the  other  corner  and  we  will 
spread  the  skin  carefully." 

"It's  a  pretty  big  skin  —  bigger  than  any  of  tlie 
beasts  we  saw  at  the  circus  ;  but  I  didn't  know  that 
Buffaloes  were  rare,"  said  Nat.  "  I  thought  the  wild 
West  was  full  of  them,  and  all  the  Indians  did  when 
they  wanted  meat  or  a  coat   was  to  go  out  and  kill 


one. 


ki 


So   they  did  once,  my  boy,  and  not  so  very  long 


ago. 


"There  is  a  picture  of  some  in  your  animal  port- 
folio," said  Dodo,  "and  in  it  there  are  lots  and  lots  of 
Buffaloes  all  over  everywhere,  more  tlian  all  the  cows 
in  the  [)asture  down  at  the  milk  farm." 

"What  shail  yon  tell  us  about  to-night,  father?" 
asked  Olive,  coming  in,  followed  by  the  dogs.  "  How 
will  you  manage  about  tlie  stories  ;  take  the  animals  hy 
families  as  you  did  tiie  birds?  " 

"No,  I  have  anotlier  plan.  In  tliis  portfolio  art' 
portraits    of    our    most    famous    American    INIamiuals. 


MON Aliens  IN   EXILE 


111 


I'loiu  'big'  giiine,'  as  it  is  culled,  down  to  the  smallest 
imisaiu'e  animal.  You  shall  all  take  turns  in  choos- 
ing' the  picture  you  like,  and  then  I  will  tell  you  its 
story,  or,  if  I  do  not  know  it  myself,  you  shall  hear  Nez, 
Uncle  Jack,  or  Olaf  for  a  change.  Then  when  each 
story  is  finished,  you  must  find  the  animal  on  the  ladder, 
ami  see  to  what  family  and  guild  he  belongs.  Is  it  a 
bargain  ? 

'•Dodo  may  choose  to-night,  as  she  is  the  youngest. 
I  will  turn  the  pictures,  for  the  portfolio  is  heavy." 

'•Did  you  draw  all  these  pictures?"  Dodo  asked,  as 
she  took  her  place  by  her  uncle,  hardly  knowing  what 
to  choose  from  among  ..o  many. 

•'No,  indeed,  the  man  who  drew  these  knew  the  beast 
l)r(»therhood  as  well  as  we  know  each  other.  In  fact, 
they  are  so  true  that  I  think  Heart  of  Nature  must  have 
stood  besit^e  him  and  touched  his  brush  and  pencil." 

''  There  is  a  (xray  Squirrel  in  here,"  chattered  Dodo, 
'4hat  looks  so  funny  and  real,  just  like  the  one  in  our 
iiickcny,  that  I  knew  it  right  away.  All  these  animals 
seem  to  be  doing  something,  too,  not  sitting  round 
looking  uncomfortable,  waiting  to  have  their  pictures 
taken  like  some  beasts  in  my  reader.  I  can't  choose, 
uncle  ;  I  like  them  all.  Here  are  three  eats'  heads 
with  no  bodies  ;  they  must  have  as  nice  a  story  as  the 
Cheshire  C'at.  I  think  I'll  shut  my  eyes  and  take  the 
lirst  I  touch,''  she  said  finally,  and  her  choice  fell  on 
the  liuft'alo,  or  Bison  as  the  Wise  Men  call  it. 

"  You  could  not  have  chosen  better,  for  from  this 
story  you  will  learn  why  1  value  that  '  old  cow  skin ' 
so  much.  I  thiidv,  if  we  name  our  stories,  they  will 
seem  more  interesting.     Let  us  call  this  one  •■  Monarchs 


!  i 


118 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


lii 


iilM*  # 


in  Exile,' "  said  the  Doctoi',  as  lie  fastened  tlie  pi(!tiiic 
with  tliuinb  pins  beside  tlie  niaj)  on  the  wall,  "and  I 
will  tell  yon  why  the  linffalo  was  a  king,  where  liis 
kingdom  was,  and  how  he  eonies  now  to  be  exiled." 

"•My  I  "said  Dodo,  stndying-  the  pietnre,  "  he  looks 
like  a  great,  wild,  hnni[)-backe(l  bnll  gone  to  Fur. 
Doesn't  the   IJnffalo  belong  to  the  eow  family?" 

Nat  langhed,  bnt  the  ])oetor  said:  "  Hoth  the  im- 
ported race  of  cows  and  this  wild  iVnnn'ican  belong  lo 
the  Boviihv,  which  we  may  call  the  meat  family  for 
slunt,  becanse  all  the  members  of  it  are  good  for  food. 
The  members  of  this  meat  family  have  their  toes 
arranged  in  cloven  hoofs,  and  wear  pairs  of  hoUow 
horns  which,  wiien  once  grown,  last  for  life.  They  all 
chew  the  (;ud  and  are  therefore  vegetable  eaters.  You 
can  easily  remember  that  all  of  the  meat  family  belong 
to  the  guild  of  Hoofed,  Hollow-horned  Cud-chewers." 

"  Ai'e  not  the  horns  of  all  animals  hollow,  and  don't 
they  last  for  life,  unless  somethiiig  breaks  them  ? " 
asked  Rap. 

"No,  the  meat  family  have  hollow,  curving,  rather 
smooth  horns,  that  begin  to  sj)rout  when  the  animal  is 
a  few  months  old,  and  continue  growing  until  the 
wearer  is  fully  grown.  In  the  Deer  family  of  cud- 
chewers  these  horns,  or  antlers  as  they  are  then  called, 
are  of  solid  bone,  pronged,  tined,  or  spreading.  TJiey 
are  shed  and  grown  anew  every  year,  and  the  reason  for 
this  is  very  interesting  —  horns,  prongs,  and  antlers 
being  a  whole  story  by  itself.  Now  let  me  return  to 
our  Buffalo.  First  look  at  the  head  and  hide,  then  at 
the  complete  animal  in  the  picture.  Can  you  imagine 
a  more  powerful  or  fierce  beast  ?  " 


'> " 


1 
;      i 


The  Bison. 


i\ 


"  No: 

(ated  a  1 
''He 

looks  ml 
imicli  of 
to  be  ui; 
tlio  lioad 
"  Vou 
cliief  full 
forcmo.st 
males  we 
measured 
of  tlie  till 
fore  leiT-s, ; 
pounds, 
captivity, 
liead  is  sh 
Iionis  tlia 
iiiid  lips  ai 
tiers  and 
yoii  see,  w 
l>iit'Iv-    [)art 
Tl 


K'  hair 


l»ai'ts  of  (1 
"wirly   l)la| 
I('ii,i,nli.      ([ 
fur,  whieh 
is  slied, 
"Oil,  wli 


or 


'ii!    inoiilt: 
"He  1 


las  1 


woidd  all 


MONARCIIS  IN  EXILE 


119 


'•'  No,"  said  Niit  and  Dodo,  promptly;  but  Rap  hesi- 
tated a  little  and  answered  shyly  :  — 

"lie  must  be  very  bi^  and  strong,  yet  somehow  he 
looks  rather  stu[)id,  too,  as  if  he  wasn't  thinking  about 
inucli  of  anything.  But  then,"  he  added,  as  if  fearing 
to  be  unjust,  "perhaps  it  is  the  glass  eyes  that  make 
tlie  head  look  so  sleepJ^" 

"  Vou  are  perfeetly  right,  Rap;  stupidity  was  the 
chief  fault,  or  ratlier  misfortune,  of  the  Buffalo.  The 
foremost  Buffalo  in  the  picture  is  an  old  male  ;  these 
males  were  often  six  feet  high  at  the  shoulder,  and 
iiu'usured  ten  feet  from  the  tip  of  tiie  nose  to  the  root 
of  the  tail,  eight  feet  around  the  body  just  behind  the 
fore  legs,  and  weighed  from  fifteen  to  seventeen  hundred 
pounds.  Those  we  saw  at  tlie  eireus  were  born  in 
captivity,  and  were  much  smaller.  The  ponderous 
head  is  shaggy,  with  a  tufted  crown  between  the  curved 
horns  that  matcli  tlie  hoofs  in  blackness.  'V\w  nose 
and  lips  are  bare,  but  the  cidn  is  bearded.  The  shoul- 
ders and  fore  legs  down  to  tiie  knees  are  covered,  as 
you  see,  with  tiiick  woolly  hair,  while  tiie  hair  on  the 
l)a('k  [)arts  of  tiie  body  is  siiorter  and  more  wavy. 
riic  iuiir  varies  in  color  and  length  on  the  different 
parts  of  the  animal,  ranging  from  yellowish  brown  to 
nearly  black,  and  being  from  four  to  ten  inches  iu 
length.  I'uder  the  long  hair  and  wool  is  a  thick  under- 
t'lir,  whicii  grows  on  the  ap[)roacli  of  cold  weather  and 
is  shed,  or  uioulted,  again  before  sunuuer." 

"Oh,  what  a  mess  the  poor  thing  uuist  get  into  wiieu 
ho  nioidts,"  said  Dodo,  stroking  the  Buffalo  robe, 
"lie  iuis  nobody  to  eoud)  hiui,  and  I  shouhl  tiiink  he 
would  all  stick   together   and  tangle.     How  does   he 


•I 


120 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


i 


manage,  uncle  ?     Does  he  scrape  through  the  bushes 
the  way  a  snake  does  to  pull  off  its  old  skin  ?  " 

"  You  have  judged  riglitly  ;  the  IJutt'alo  has  a  huid 
time  witli  his  coat,  and  only  looks  really  respectal)le 
a  very  small  part  of  the  year.  During  four  months  lie 
is  Avell  dressed,  for  the  other  eiglit  lie  appears  in 
various  stages  of  rags  and  tatters.  In  October  he  is 
quite  a  gentleman,  wearing  a  new  suit  of  beautifully 
shaded  brown  and  buff  which  he  manages  to  keep  fresh 
find  bright  until  after  Christmas.  Soon  after  this  the 
effect  of  wear  and  tear,  storm  and  snow,  ap[)ear  in  a 
general  fading.  You  can  easily  see,  however,  that  the 
Buffalo  with  his  winter  coat,  added  to  a  thick  hide. 
could  defy  the  weather  even  of  the  most  oj)en,  wind- 
swept country,  and  must  be  one  of  tlie  hardiest  of  our 
fourfoots. 

"  All  tliis  tells  you  how  the  animal  looked.  Next 
you  must  know  why  he  was  king  of  American  four- 
foots  :  it  was  because  of  liis  usefulness  to  the  two- 
footed  Americans  —  the  Indians  who  lived  with  liini 
in  wood,  plain,  and  i)rairi(',  but  (diiefly  in  the  open 
plains.  In  the  long  ago  every  part  of  the  IJntfalo  was 
of  service  to  (lie  wild  pe(»[>le  who  had  never  seen 
a  white  face,  a  horse,  or  a  gun.  In  fact,  it  is  strnutfc 
that  this  shaggy  brown  monster  of  the  plain  was  not 
worshipped  by  the  savages  as  a  god  ;  for  during  the 
last  thret^  linmlred  years  of  their  liberty  it  was  llic 
Hntfalo  (dnelly  that  made  it  possible  for  them  to  live. 
As  long  as  the  Indian  had  the  liulfalo  to  supjdy  his 
necils,  he  was  independent  and  uncon()uerable. 

"In  thci  far  back  time,  of  which  there  is  no  written 
liistory,  nuin  had  no  other  instruments  of  killing  than 


did  the 

or   bow 

beasts  t 

claws,    J 

jially  on 

than  hill 

ill  man 

stone  ax 

gave  bin 

could  gi\ 

-The 
nients,  tii 
for  carry; 
also  boat 
nia''e  'u 
snow      ,, 

were  lusn 
d 


MON Aliens  IN  EXILE 


121 


ilid  the  beiist  brotherhood,  not  even  the  stone  axe, 
or  bow  and  arrow,  being  closely  akin  to  the  wild 
beasts  themselves,  who  were  armed  only  with  teeth, 
claws,  and  cunning.  Man  must  have  lived  origi- 
nally on  fruits  or  animals  weaker  and  less  sure-footed 
than  himself.  In  this  struggle  for  a  living  the  mind 
ill  man  began  to  develop,  and  he  shaped  a  club  or  a 
stone  axe,  made  traps  and  then  caught  animals  that 
gave  liim  material  for  better  wea[)ons.  What  animal 
could  give  him  more  than  tlie  Buffalo  ? 

''The  hairy  skin  made  warm  robes  and  other  gar- 
iiu'nts,  the  liairless  hides  furnished  tent  coverings,  bags 
t'oi'  carrying  food,  and,  later,  when  horses  came,  saddles, 
also  boats,  shields,  rawhide  ropes,  etc.  Tlie  sinews 
iiKu'c  he  thread  to  sew  the  robes,  the  lattice  for 
snov  ,1  i  siud  strings  for  bows;  from  tlie  bones 
were  lusnioned  many  articles  of  use  and  ornament ;  the 
hoofs  and  horns  gave  drinking  cups  and  si)o()ns,  as  well 
lis  the  glue  with  which  the  Indian  fastened  his  stone 
arrow-heads  to  their  wooden  shafts.  Even  the  drop- 
pings of  the  hulfalo,  when  dried,  were  precuous  for  fuel. 
Tht'sc  parts  of  the  Huft'alo  would  alone  have  nuide  him 
valuable  ;  but  we  have  not  mentioned  the  meat,  the 
rich,  nourishing,  wild  beef  of  North  America.  Think 
of  the  iiundrcds  of  pounds  of  food  one  beast  would 
yield  : " 

"  Wasn't  it  rather  tough  nu^at?"  asked  Nat.  "That 
old  fellow  {lu'i'v  on  the  wall  looks  as  if  he  would  have 
lu'cded  us  much  chewing  as  the  gum  iiod  gave  me  from 
tlir  old  cherry  tree." 

"  The  meat  of  an  old  ilnffalo  bull  certainly  was 
(oiigli,  as  the  meat  of  any  other  old  aninuil  is  likely  to 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICA NS 


be  ;  but  the  beef  of  the  three-year-okl,  or  the  cows,  is 
as  delicious  as  our  best  roast  beef. 

"  Only  a  part  of  the  meat  was  eaten  fresh,  the  rest 
was  dried  iu  various  ways  and  kept  for  further  use  ;  for 
the  whole  thought  of  the  savage  was  given  to  self-pres- 
ervation from  two  ghosts  that  crossed  his  })ath  at  eveiy 
step, — his  human  enemies  and  starvation.  Often  the 
last  was  the  more  cruel  of  tlie  two.  So  the  Buffalo 
tongues  were  smoked  and  dried,  the  marrow  from  the 
bones  packed  away  in  skins,  while  all  the  titl)its  were 
pounded  line,  mixed  with  melted  fat,  and  sometimes 
berries  also,  to  make  a  sort  of  hash  more  nearly  like 
sausage-meat  than  anything  else,  which  was  called  pcm- 
mican.  When  we  think  of  the  Buffalo,  we  must  tliiiik 
of  the  Indian  also,  and  if  the  In<lian  did  much  at  last 
to  send  this  l)east  brother  into  exile,  he  also  has  shared 
it  with  him." 

"Have  Indians  and  liuffaloes  always  lived  in  North 
America,"  asked  Olive,  "and  if  they  did  not,  wliere  did 
they  come  from  ?  " 

"Always  is  a  long  time,  for  when  the  earth  was  very 
young  lliere  were  no  people  anywhere.  I  supi)ose  you 
mean  were  the  Indians  the  tirst  people  knoivn  to  live 
here.  Y'es,  and  they  may  have  been  the  very  lirst  j)eo- 
ple  to  live  on  this  soil  —  a  race  by  themselves.  At  any 
rate  one  of  the  lirst  Kuroju'iin  discoverers  to  si't  foot  on 
the  North  Anu-ricau  continent  found  the  Indian  heie 
and  also  the  BuiTalo.  Strangely  enough  the  liisl  Buf- 
falo described  did  not  a[)pcar  as  a  king  of  the  plains, 
but  a  cai)tive  in  a  ^lenagcrie. 

"It  was  nearly  four  liundrcd  years  ago,  when  ^lonle- 
zuma  II  was   Kmperor  of   A/.tec   Mexico,  that   a   Men- 


MONAliCHS   m   EXILE 


123 


a^eiie  stood  in  the  square  of  the  Capitol.  Amon^^  the 
other  beasts  in  it  was  one  called  by  an  early  ^v^iter  a 
Olexiean  liull,  resembling  many  animals  combined  in 
OIK',  having  a  humped  back  like  a  Camel,  a  Irion's  mane, 
horns  like  a  Bull,  a  long  tail,  and  cloyen  hoofs,"  —  this 
heast  was  the  American  Jiuffalo. 

"  How  he  came  to  be  there  no  one  knows,  for  they 
were  not  afterward  found  to  range  so  far  south,  but  he 
W!is  probably  captured  by  some  of  the  Mexicans  on 
their  nortliward  exj)editions. 

"  Between  this  first  Buffalo  of  the  ^lexican  Men- 
agerie and  the  last  (which  one  of  you  young  people 
may  live  to  see)  stretches  the  history  of  this  tribe  that 
exceeded  in  numbers  any  other  of  the  greater  beasts  of 
tlu)  earth.  It  reads  like  some  wild  legend  or  impossi- 
hle  fairy  tale,  yet  it  is  all  true  and  took  place  in  the 
western  half  of  our  own  country,  and  when  the  west 
wind  Itlows  fiercely  around  the  farm,  it  has  often  swept 
over  the  very  plains  that  were  the  lUiffalo's  kingdom. 
Whole  books  liave  been  written,  and  yet  have  not  told 
half  tlie  tale,  which  is  in  a  way  the  history  of  the  kill- 
iiiL;'  (if  all  the  great  American  fourfi)ots  as  well. 

"The  Buffalo's  history  is  in  tiircc  acts  and  many 
scenes.  First,  the  gol(h!n  days  of  j)eacc  and  pU'uty, 
the  rigid fnl  killing  for  food,  with  laborious  hunting,  a 
fair  light  between  man  and  beast.  'Take  what  ye  need 
to  eat.'  said  Heart  of  Nature  to  man  and  beast  alike. 

"Tlien  the  white  and  red  men  joined  in  the  jjursuit ; 
lleet  horses  were  iised  in  the  chase  instead  of  men's  feet, 
hiillels  killing  from  afar  replaced  the  arrows  shot  at  close 
range.  Not  merely  meat  to  eat  or  hides  for  covering, 
or  rt'asonable   tradi',  but    waste   and   butchery.      Skins 


124 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


% 


traded  for  whiskey,  —  the  skins  too  of  cows  and  their 
young. 

"•  Last  of  all  came  the  railroads,  bringing  the  white 
hunter  with  his  deadly  aim  into  the  last  retreat  of  tiie 
herds.  These  three  acts  will  show  you  the  living,  the 
hunting,  and  the  butchering  of  the  Buffalo. 

"At  first  the  Buffaloes  ranged  over  all  parts  of  North 
America  where  they  could  find  suitable  i)asture.  See, 
I  have  made  lines  on  the  map  to  show  you  how  it  was 
found  in  two-thirds  of  what  are  now  the  United  States, 
living  in  western  prairies,  forest-park  land,  the  plains, 
and  far  up  on  mountain  sides,  being  found  in  the  North- 
west up  to  the  land  of  snow.  Buffaloes,  as  you  know, 
are  cud-chewers  and,  of  course,  grass-eaters,  though 
when  pushed  to  it  they  will  eat  sage  brush,  and  for  this 
reason  they  were  obliged  to  move  about  during  tiie 
year  more  than  any  otlier  fourfoots,  except  one  kind 
of  deer  ;  those  in  the  south  going  north  as  summer 
dried  the  grass,  and  the  northerly  herds  leaving  their 
sunnner  })asture  before  iieavy  snow  Falls.  Buffaloes 
usually  moved  several  liundred  miles  soutli  as  winter 
came  on,  and  in  these  annual  migrations  great  numbers 
lost  their  lives  ;  for  often  the  vast  lierds  would  make 
this  journey  on  the  full  run,  —  stampeding,  it  is  calh'd. 
Puslnng  blindly  along,  masses  of  them  fell  into  (piiek- 
sand  and  over  cliffs,  or  broke  through  river  and  hike 
ice. 

''What  made  tluMu  stam[)ede?  Was  not  that  ven 
stupid  of  them?"  said   Nat. 

"  Yes,  but  like  most  animals  who  live;  in  Ihu^ks  or 
lierds,  and  pcojdi^  who  live  in  thick  (M)mnuinities,  thev 
were  both  cui'ious  and  stu[)id  —  what  one  did   thev  all 


MON Aliens   IN  EXILE 


125 


tlid.  You  know  if  Nanny  Bsia  starts  to  run  all  the 
other  sheep  follow  her,  —  where,  it  does  not  matter 
to  them." 

'•  Yes,  and  I've  noticed  that  they  all  try  to  get 
through  the  same  hole  in  the  wall,  or  pack  tight  into 
some  little  corner." 

''  The  grass  was  best  in  the  valleys  along  the  water- 
courses, and  you  would  ex^ject  the  Buffaloes  to  stay  in 
such  places ;  but  they  were  stupid  even  in  their  search 
for  food,  and  wandered  out  on  the  dry  plains  where  the 
<,nass  that  bore  their  name  was  turned  to  standing  hay 
hy  drought  and  heat. 

"Tlie  Buffalo  had  no  private  life;  his  time  was 
spoilt  in  a  crowd  from  the  time  in  sjjring,  when  as  an 
awkward  calf  he  found  it  dilTlicult  to  keep  up  with  the 
hord  in  its  march,  until  his  life  was  ended  eitlier  by 
rushing  with  tlie  stampeding  herd  into  an  engulting  bog, 
or,  if  straggling  from  tlie  herd,  wounded  or  feeble  lie 
fell  a  victim  to  the  grim  gray  Wolves  who  were  as  the 
lliiffaloes'  shadows,  following  them  ceaselessly. 

''Tlie  fact  that  the  Buffaloes  grazed  far  and  wide 
miidc  tlicir  daily  inarch  to  the  watercourses  a  ceremony 
of  yrcat  iinportance,  and  their  kingdom  was  furrowed 
(U't'ply  by  tiiese  trails  worn  by  innumerable  feet  as 
tlu'v  all  followed  their  leailer  to  the  chosen  watcring- 
place. 

"How  did  they  choose  their  leader?"  asked  Dodt). 

"  \Yliy,  the  strongest  bull,  of  course,"  said  Nat. 

"  Xo,  on  the  contrary,  the  leader  whom  they  trusted 
was  often  some  wise  old  cow.  When  slu;  gave  the 
siifiial,  ilie  feeding  Hto[)[»ed,  off  they  all  marched,  per- 
liaps   miles   aiu-oss   country   until    water   was   reached. 


126 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


m 


11'' 


always,  in  spite  of  their  stupidity,  choosing  the  safest 
and  most  direct  route  to  the  desired  spot." 

"How  did  people  find  that  out,  by  watching  them?" 
asked  Kap. 

"  Partly,  but  their  paths  or  trails  were  cut  so  deep, 
sometimes  two  feet,  in  the  clayey  ground,  that  they 
remain  to  this  day.  You  see  in  the  picture  the  Buf- 
faloes  are  coming  down  a  trail,  and  with  them  is 
another  king  of  the  plains,  —  the  sand-colored  sluggish 
prairie  Rattlesnake.  Big  as  the  Buffalo  is,  he  does 
not  care  to  pull  the  leaves  from  a  tuft  of  curly  grass  if 
he  sees  one  of  these  snakes  near  it.  Nature  evidently 
whispers  to  the  Buffalo  very  early  in  life  :  '  The  little 
horny  knobs  on  your  head  will  surely  grow,  a  lap  for 
each  year  :  at  three  you  will  carry  sharp  spikes  ;  at  ten 
polished  black  curved  horns  ;  at  twenty,  if  you  live  so 
long,  gnarled,  furrowed  stubs,  —  yet  do  not  be  proud, 
remember  that  gray  Rattlesnake  coiled  in  the  dust 
carries  in  his  mouth  two  fangs  as  deadly  as  your  fiercest 
charge.  Be  friends;  do  not  dispute,  but  sluire  your 
kingdom  with  lam.'  So  tliey  lived  together,  but  the 
snake  has  outlasted  his  brother  king." 

"  I  shouldn't  think  then  that  plains  would  be  niee 
places  to  stay,"  said  Dodo. 

"They  are  not,"  said  Olive,  decidedly. 

"You  are  thiid^ing  of  my  story  about  the  time  1  was 
belated,  twenty  years  ago,  and  had  to  camp  on  the 
ground  instead  of  coming  on  to  your  mother  at  the 
ranch,"  said  the   Doctor,  laughing. 

"Did  snakes  chase  you?  "  asked  Nat. 

"No,  but  the  s[)ot  where  we  were  obliged  to  make 
camp  was  full  of  their  hoh^s,  and  our  horses  knew  it 


i     i 


MONAllCHS  IN   EXILE 


127 


safest 

em?" 

deep, 
they 
!  Biii'- 
em   is 
iggish 
3  does 
;rass  if 
dently 
e  little 
lap  for 
at  ten 
live  so 
proiul, 
e  dust 
iereest 
3  your 
ut  the 

je  niee 


I  was 

(lu  the 
at  the 


()  uialvo 
Ivuew  it 


and  were  uneasy;  yet  they  were  utterly  spent,  so  we  had 
no  choice  but  to  rest  and  picket  them.  We  stopped  up 
the  snake  holes  with  hot  ashes  from  our  fire,  which  by 
the  way  was  made  of  Ikiffalo  chips  or  droppings,  spread 
a  hair  rope  or  lariat  in  a  circle  inside,  while  we  put  our- 
selves on  rather  than  in  our  blankets." 

"Why  did  you  make  a  circle  with  the  rope?"  asked 
Uap. 

'•'  Because  one  of  our  party,  a  scout,  said  a  Rattle- 
snake would  never  cross  a  hair  rope,  so  we  put  it  there 
to  please  the  man." 

"  Did  they  cross  it?  "  asked  all  the  children  together. 

"  Xo,  we  started  in  the  morning  on  our  search  for 
water  before  a  single  evil-eyed  snake  ]iad  wiggled  out, 
but  I  thanked  the  ashes,  not  the  magic  rope." 

''Isn't  the  water  rather  warm  and  stale  in  these 
water  lioles?  It  usually  is  in  such  places  here,"  said 
Uap,  h)oking  at  the  picture  again. 

"Of  course  it  is!  Dearie  me  I  I "  exclaimed  the 
Doctor.  "  You  youngsters  would  not  even  know  it  for 
water.  Wetness  is  the  only  thing  it  has  in  common 
witli  tlie  poorest  puddle  on  the  farm.  Much  of  tlie 
[water  of  i)rairie  and  Bad  Lands  is  a  cross  between 
kneen  whitewasii  and  pea  soup.  Sometimes  the  lime,  of 
which  it  is  full,  shows  white  and  crusty  round  the  pool 
edffes  as  early  ice  tloes  here.  Rut  to  return  to  our 
[iiulfalo  procession. 

"  If  it  was  a  warm  day  they  would  often  take  a  roll 
liii  the  pools  after  drinking,  and  you  can  imagine  what 
la  spectacle  a  woolly  Buffalo  would  be  after  such  a  bath 
|iii  a  mud  puddle." 

"How  could  they  like  to  be  so  dirty?"  said  Olive, 


*,   : 


128 


FO  UR-FOO TED   A  M  Eli  It' A  NS 


who,  in  spite  of  iier  love  of  everything  wild,  was  as 
dainty  as  a  white  kid  glove. 

"  They  had  a  practical  reason  :  the  mud  dried  inU)  a 
crust  that  kept  the  insects  from  driving  them  wild. 
From  doing  this  freipiently,  and  turning  round  and 
round  as  they  wallowed  and  splashed,  many  of  these 
pools  were  shaped  into  sort  of  deep,  round  bath  tubs, 
as  a  potter  shapes  a  clay  vessel  with  his  thumb.  In 
fact,  Buffaloes  were  so  fond  of  rolling  to  scratch  them- 
selves, that  they  also  rolled  head  first  in  earth  and  sand, 
as  well  as  water,  and  in  time  their  horns  came,  in  this 
way,  to  be  worn  and  stubby.  An  English  traveller, 
early  in  this  century,  wrote  that  in  Pennsylvania,  before 
tiie  Buffaloes  had  learned  to  fear  people,  a  man  built  a 
log  liouse  near  a  salt  spring  where  many  Buffaloes  lanie 
to  drink.  The  Buffaloes  evidently  thouglit  the  houst; 
would  make  a  delightful  place  to  rub  and  scratch,  for 
history  says  they  actually  rubl)ed  it  down  ! 

"  Before  they  learned  the  dread  of  House  People. 
and  the  necessity  of  keeping  constantly  on  the  watcli. 
the  Buffah)"s  life  was  inucli  like  that  of  the  great 
herds  of  domestic  cattle  that  now  range  the  same 
prairie  pastures.  The  calves  frisked  and  played,  the 
herds  liad  their  times  of  rest,  of  [denty  and  of  scarcity, 
though  the  Buffalo  was  a  ditticult  animal  to  starve, 
and  faced  out  blizzanls  before  which  the  domestic 
cattle  wcmld  turn  tail  and  perish.  This  was  oiie 
great  reason  why  he  should  have  been  protected, 
and  this  magnilicent  monandi  kept  in  his  kingdom 
and  developed  to  suit  present  need.  The  Buffitln 
was  able  to  withstand  all  tiie  natural  dangers,  of  eolii,] 
hunger,  and  prowling  Wolves,  to  which  he  was  ex[)()sei 


and    stil 

fathers, 

tection, 

Wolf  pa 

ing  the  c 

tality  wa 

after  soin 

quite  abli 

again,     'j 


MONARCHS  IN  EXILE 


129 


vas  as 

inU)  ii 
I  wild. 
id  and 
f  these 
li  tubs, 
lb.  Ill 
1  tliem- 
,d  sand, 

in  this 
•aveller. 
I,  before 
1  built  11 
)es  eame 
le  house 
itch,  for 


anil  still  increase  and  nmltiply.  They  made  good 
fiitliers,  too,  taking  the  young  calves  under  their  pro- 
tection, sometimes  hustling  them  along  through  the 
Wolf  packs  with  horns  lowered  and  tails  raised,  keep- 
lug"  the  calves  well  inside  the  tlying  wedge.  Their  vi- 
tality was  so  great  that,  if  in  falling  over  a  i)recipice 
after  some  foolish  run,  a  leg  was  broken,  its  owner  was 
quite  able  to  go  about  on  the  other  three  until  it  knit 
again.  This  is  the  first  scene, — the  golden  days  of 
the  Buffaloes,  —  when  they  swarmed  by  hundreds  of 
thousands  like  mosquitoes  over  a  marsh.  These  w^ere 
tlie  days  when  the  red  men  had  no  weapons  suflticient 
to  kill  tiiem. 

"  Listen  to  what  came  upon  the  Buffalo  in  the  second 
scene,  in  the  days  of  fair  hunting,  this  time  beginning 
we  do  not  know  when  and  lasting  until  tlireescore 
years  ago." 

"  How  many  is  a  score,  more  than  a  dozen  ?  "  inter- 
rupted Dodo. 
"A  score  is  twenty." 

"  Are  there  two  kinds  of  scores  ? "  persisted  Dodo, 
"for  you  know,  Uncle  Uo}^  a  baker's  dozen  is  thirteen, 
and  a  dozen  postage  stamps  is  twelve,  and  down  at  the 
store  they  sell  sticks  of  candy  by  postage-stamp  meas- 
ure." 

"  A  score  is  no  more  nor  less  than  twenty,"  laughed 
the  Doctor  ;  "but  do  not  lead  me  away  from  our  second 
scene.  Wlien  the  Indian  had  no  w'eapons,  he  could 
slay  onl}'  small  game,  and  even  when  he  had  only  a  club 
and  stone  axe  to  help  him  the  killing  of  the  thick- 
skinned,  wool-clad  Buffalo  must  have  been  a  difticult 
task.     Do  the  best  he  could,  the  red  man  had  to  work 


ii 


130 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


n-  ( 


desperately  hard  for  every  pound  of  flesh  or  hide  lie 
captured. 

"Then  tlie  mind  of  man  began  to  devehip  and  aid 
him.  The  Indian,  knowing  tlie  Buffalo's  hahit  of 
stampeding  from  fright,  hiid  stones,  sticks,  and  brush  on 
either  side  of  some  open  space  to  make  a  sort  of  drive- 
way, wide  apart  at  first,  but  gradually  narrowing  until 
it  ended  either  in  a  sort  of  pen  or  at  the  edge  of  a  preci- 
pice. 

"  After  a  herd  was  located,  and  this  in  itself  was 
not  always  easy,  a  disturbance  was  made  to  start  it  run- 
ning in  the  right  direction.  Perhaps  a  man  went  out 
and  waved  his  arms,  retreating  down  the  driveway  as 
the  first  of  the  herd  came  near  to  look  at  him.  Tlie 
curious  animal  would  quicken  his  pace,  and  as  soon  as 
he  was  fairly  started  the  Indian  slipped  behind  the  bar- 
ricade and  joined  with  liis  comrades  in  shouting  to 
frighten  the  herd  that  were  now  following  their  leader 
at  full  gallop. 

"  On  the  mad  throng  rushed,  crowding  and  trampling 
each  other  as  the  track  narrowed,  until,  when  tliev 
arrived  in  the  pen,  they  were  giving  each  other  mortal 
wounds,  the  calves  tossed  on  the  horns  of  the  old  bulls 
and  the  weaker  trampled  to  death.  Then,  amid  great 
personal  danger,  the  Indians  rushed  in  and  killed  those 
not  already  wounded,  with  stone  axes,  or  in  later  days 
shot  them  with  their  flint  arrows.  You  can  see  that  it 
must  have  taken  a  strong  arm  to  send  a  clumsy  stone 
arrow  through  the  thick  Buffalo  hide.  If  the  animals 
were  driven  over  a  cliff  and  fell  crippled  at  the  bottom, 
the  killing  took  place  there  in  the  same  manner  as  in 
the  pen.    After  the  slaughter,  the  men  discussed  various 


sCvHies  ( 
tribes,  j 
out  up  ) 
and  too^ 
''  IIov 
It  \voul( 
said  Do 
for  lier. 
"  This 
sledge,  ii 
scattered 
liorses. 
-Oh, 
West  SI] 
"Tlie  th 
to  tlie  h( 
g'i'ound, 
back  kne 
hold  thi] 
"  Yes, 
it  over 
Some  tin 
People  ca 
the  horse 
with  tlie 
from  the 
Indian's 
we   nieasi 
half-breet 
with  grei 
animals 
and  culti) 


MONARCHS  IX  EXILE 


131 


.de  he 

id  aid 
,bit  ()£ 
ush  on 
drive- 
y  until 
^  prcci- 

3lf   was 
;  it  run- 
ent  out 
ewiiy  as 
1.     The 
soon  as 
the  bar- 
iting  to 
r  leader 


sccnies  of  the  affair  as  if  it  had  been  a  battle  l)et\veen 
tribes,  and  the  women  came  in,  skinned  the  animals, 
cut  up  the  meat,  packed  it  on  their  wheel-less  dog-carts, 
and  took  it  to  camp." 

'' IIow  can  there  possibly  be  a  cart  without  wheels? 
It  would  only  be  a  box  that  Avould  bump  and  spill," 
said  Dodo,  who  had  kept  quiet  an  unusually  long  time 
for  her. 

''Tliis  Indian  cart,  as  wheel-less  as  the  Eskimo 
sledge,  is  called  a  travois,  and  is  still  in  us'^  among  the 
scattered  tribes,  except  that  now  it  is  dragged  by 
horses.     Can  you  imagine  how  it  was  made?' 

^' Oh,  I  know  what  it  is;  we  saw  it  at  the  Wild 
West  Show  !  Don't  you  remember  ?  "  shouted  xVat. 
"The  thing  like  a  pair  of  cross-legged  shafts  fastened 
to  the  horse's  back,  with  the  big  ends  trailing  or;  tJie 
p round,  and  braces  across  right  behind  the  horse's 
hack  knees,  to  keep  it  together  and  make  a  pla'^e  to 
hold  things  !  " 

"  Yes,  that  was  a  travois,  and  it  is  possible  to  drag 
it  over  ground  that  would  quickly  break  cart  wl,eels. 
Some  time  after,  when  the  civilized  races  or  House 
People  came  to  America  and  settled  along  the  coasts, 
the  horse  found  its  way  among  the  Indians.  He  came 
with  the  Spanish  through  Mexico  in  the  South,  and 
from  the  Canadian  French  in  the  Nci'ii.  Soon  an 
Indian's  wealth  began  to  be  measured  by  horses,  as 
we  measure  ours  by  dollars.  Indians  mounted  on 
half-breed  horses  followed  the  Bv  f.^io  over  the  plains, 
with  greater  success,  for,  as  the  old  range  of  these 
animals  in  the  East  and  South  was  being  peopled 
and  cultivated,  the  Buffalo  crowded  westward,  as  the 


I      ! 


ij:  ^.S'{  ^ 


fi, 


i 


132 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Win 


I' 


Indians  themselves  were  soon  to  be  crowded  in  n\ 
tlieir  hunting-grounds.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
end,  though  it  took  many  years  yet  to  drive  the  nioii- 
arch  from  his  kingdom. 

"Act  tliird  ciune,  passed  rapidly  and  with  it  Ihe 
IJuffalo.  Firearms,  from  musket  to  pistol,  were  plen- 
tiful, and  tlien  followed  tlie  deadly,  long-range  rille. 
Stupid  greed  fell  upon  tlie  Indian  and  white  settler 
alike.  No  one  listened  to  the  warning  cry,  'Take 
what  ye  need  to  eat.'  It  was  not  oidy  llesh  for  fdod 
and  liides  for  covering,  br.t  hides  for  sale,  and  cow 
liides  at  that,  with  no  rcs[)ect  of  season.  'I'he  Indian 
found  thill  nuu'li  deadly  tire-water  could  be  bought  lor 
Huffalo  skins,  and  also  tiiat  the  hides  of  the  females 
and  calves  were  the  softest  and  most  valuable. 

"So  then  the  massacre  began;  for  it  was  outriuflit 
nuirder  to  kill  the  females  and  young.  Whites  and 
Indians  went  out  to  kill,  as  an  army  prepared  to  ma- 
no'uvre,  surprise,  tra}),  and  give  no  (piarter.  The  ihif- 
faloes  were  chased  by  men  on  horseback,  who  shot  with 
})istols,  as  more  easily  use<l  with  one  hand,  and  were 
also  shot  at  from  ambush  with  the  long-raugi;  rifle,  sn 
that  the  poor  bewildered  things,  often  seeing  no  enemy. 
did  not  know  in  what  direction  to  escape,  and  ImddhMJ 
together  helpless  victims.  Still  they  lield  their  own 
and  incrcasiul  until  the  last  scene  of  all  took  place;  and 
it  seems  to  me  that  it  was  only  yesterday. 

"A  railroad  stretched  its  iron  arm  across  the  conn- 
try,  —  it  was  the  I'nion  I'acilic.  Have  you  ever  sciii 
llie  ants  rush  out  of  a  great  hill  that  has  been  <\\> 
turluid?     Could   you   count   them?" 

"(Jh,"  saitl   Kap,   "I've  seen  them  oftcm,  and  \o\\\ 


could   1] 
water  ii 
"  Wei 
never  ai 
nil  I  libers 
u  single 
of  mine 
one  Jiund 
gei-ous,  J 
liad  to  8t( 
the  Muflfu 
eni  and  t 
as  great  s 
easy  way 
port   the 
nit'iit  tliat 
tlie  exile  o 
slinnkiiiir 
■^Ivinned  ca 


M0NA1WHS  /.Y   EXILE 


138 


f  the 

lUOU- 

t  llie 
plcu- 
rille. 
settler 
'  Take 
I*  food 

liidiiUi 

females 

)uti'i;j;ht 
tes  and 

to    lU'.l- 

"l»e  Uuf- 

lot  \vitl> 

liid  wevo 

rille,  sii 

xMU'iny. 

oil'  own 
u-e;  ami 

.yi'V  sei'ii 

iin«l  V'^^i 


could   no  more  count  them   tliau  you  could  drops  of 
water  in  a  hurry." 

"■Well,  so  it  was  with   the    IJuft'aloes  ;    there   were 
never  any  large  fourfoots  on  earth  to  ec^ual  them  in 
luunbers,  and  even  in  my  day  we  have  true  records  of 
a  single  herd  of  no  less  than  4,000,000  head.     A  friend 
of  mine  once,  riding  on  a  train,  passed  for  more  than 
one  hundred  miles  through  a  single  herd.     It  was  dan- 
gerous, 1  can  tell  you,  for  the  trains,  and  they  often 
had  to  stop  to  let  the  Butfaloes  pass  by.     At  this  time 
the  Hufl'aloes  were  then  in  two  great  herds,  the  north- 
ern and  the  southern.     'J'hen  these  began  to  melt  away 
as  great  snowballs  do  in  the  sun.     Kailroads  meant  an 
easy  way  to  reach  the   Hui'faloes,  an  easy  way  to  trans- 
port  the   skins  ;    for   it   was   the   skin   more   than  the 
meat  that  was  desired.     The  engine  whistle  sounded 
the  exile  of  this  momirch,  and  fen*  ten  years  his  king(h)m, 
shrinking  and  shifting,  was  a  battlefield  strewn  with 
skinned  carcasses.     Next,  the  horns  were  gathered,  and 
liiially    the    bleached    l)ones    themselves    were    carried 
away  to  l»e  grouml  into  fertilizer,  and  thus  make  the 
iililiteration  comjdete. 

"  During  a  few  y(>ars  more  there  were  stragglers  here 
and  tliere,  and,  in  IHDO,  when  I  was  gning  westward 
t'nun  the  Hbudc  Hills  in  Wyoming,  I  shot  the  bcitst 
whose  head  and  skin  we  have  lu  re  now.  I  said,  '  I 
will  take  this  eastward  when  I  have  a  home  again,  that 
[my  gnnid(diildi'en  nniy  believe  (hat  sutdi  beasts  lived, 
and  that  their  graudt'ather  knew  tliein  on  their  native 
jilains,  for  by  that  lime  tliis  king  will  be  in  exile."  It 
lias  all  hap[>ened  sooniu*  than  I  thought. 
"Now  a  few,  a  mere  handful,  twenty-four  perhaps  in 


!r-i 


i 


134 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


all,  live  wild  in  the  Yellowstone  Park.  A  Imndmd 
more  are  scattered  here  and  there  in  kind  ca|)tiviiv, 
where  they  may  live  for  some  time,  hut  lose  their  tvpi; 
and  spirits  like  the  eaptive  Indians.  Now  you  may 
travel  the  plains  from  New  Mexico  north  and  see  no 
other  trace  of  the  Buffalo  than  a  weather-heaten  skull, 
—  the  perch  for  a  hurrowing'  Owl,  or  tlie  retreat  of  the 
other  king,  the  Rattlesnake. 

"As  the  Buffalo  vanished,  the  Indian  as  a  freeiiuiii 
vanished  also;  his  wild  heef  is  gone  and  he  is  given 
rations  in  begrudged  charity.  Ouce  hoth  Buffalo  and 
Indian  might  have  been  develo[)ed  to  useful  citizens; 
now,  if  we  succeed  in  j)reserving  either  race,  it  will  he 
only  as  captives.  The  kingdom  of  each  is  destroyed. 
and  the  [)eo[)le  of  this  land  are  not  blameless." 

"  It's  a  very  sad  story,  and  Vm  afraid  the  left-ovei 
BufValoes  won't  like  it  very  well  even  in  the  new  Zoiil. 
ogy  (iarden,"  said   Dodo,  attacking  the  word  bravelv. 


but 


nussniLT 


it. 


Any    sort   of    land    with   a    IVi 


H'c 


r  " 


around  it  must  seem  (!raini)y  for  them.      I'm  very  glad. 
anyhow,  that  I  saw  tliose  at  the  (Uhmis." 

"I'm  sorry  tor  the  Indians  and  the  BulValocs  holli," 
.said  Ba[),  sctlemnly,  after  a  long  [)ausc  wiicn  every  oiir 
.sat  silently  lookinjif  at  tht!  fire;  "but  I  s'po.se  if  wliili 
people  wanted  th(^  land,  it  had  to  be  because  of  wiiat  tin 
llrst  .selectiuau  calls  '  progress 

The  elder  pcctple  laughed   licarlily  at  this,  aud  Ni'iB,,! 
said,  "I  don't  see  wiiat    he  has  to  do  with    Indians  ai 
Buffaloes;   he's  old    Mr.  iloddcr   down   by  the  hiid!,'i,B| 
and  he's  never  been  auywherc."  \ 

"  Perhiips  not."  said  ( Hive,  "  l)ut  I  know   what  \l\\ 
means.      This   is   the   way   it    hai)pene(l.       Vou    km' 


W'idoM 

N'ilJagc 

•*I   (i 

jiiinble.s 

iiway   t\ 

w'ulei  tc 

and  sjie 

iit'i-  talki 

" '  TJi, 

ilei'oss  lol 

sell  yer  t 

"•But, 

Iiili  there 

«<f»p  at  th 

"'I   kn 

it's  j)rogr( 

"  Won 
iiliikc,"  .s 

"I   <loaii 
"flipped  111 
lucked  til 
sake.s,  ho 
'•"'III,  jik(f 
iiiiiKcred, 
'''le  tni\ 
'iiildrcn  s; 
id'Icr  I 
'^■'(('Iieii    foi 
"leci(|,.,I  (hi 
iliiiner  that 


w 


MOXARCITS  IN  EXILE 


135 


iviiy, 
'  i\\w 
I  may 
^ec  no 
skiill, 
of  llie 


\  oMveu 
ivU)  and 

Lti/i'llS  '. 

will  1h' 
stvoved 


Widow  Hull  tV.at  has  the  little  house  l)eyond  East 
N'iUage  by  the  t«'Iigute  ?  " 

••I  do,"  said  Dodo.  "She  makes  lovely  taffy  and 
jund)les  and  ginger  [)o[)  I  " 

••  NVell,  she  woirt  any  more  ;  they  are  going  to  take 
in\ay  the  tollgate  and  her  house,  to  make  the  road 
wider  to  run  trolley  (uirs  on.  Mrs.  Hull  has  to  move, 
and  she  feels  dreadfully,  and  says  she'll  starve.     I  heard 


L-eeiuan   I     Iut  talking  about  it  to  Mr.  Hodder 


left-ovt'v  1 

1 

>AV  /oi'il- 

1 

bvavcly. 

1 

a   iViuH' 

1 

I'l-y  K^'*'^' 

1 

t>S  bnU\, 
'very  one 
il'  wliili' 
what  111'' 

and  Nil 
dians  aii'i 
\e  bi'i*l;4'' 

nNvhiH  ll'll 
'ou   kimi 


'• '  'I'he  town'U  give  yer  a  lot  and  move  yer  house 
aiToss  lots  down  to  the  next  eorner,"  said  he.  'Yer  can 
soil  yer  truck  there.' 

'•'Hut,'  said  Mrs.  Hull,  'the  trolley  cars  go  by  down- 
hill there  and  iioliody'll  stop  to  buy.  They  all  had  to 
st(»[)  at  the  tollgate  I ' 

"'I  know  that,  marm,'  said  he,  getting  cross, '  but 
it's  progress ;  progress  always  hurts  somebody,  marm.'  " 

"Won't  yer  please  hand  in  dis  yer  tray,  Massa 
Ulakc,"  said  Mammy  liun's  cheery  voice  at  the  door. 
"1  (loan  like  walkin'  on  dcm  skins  and  tings,  dey 
slipited  nu^  down  yesterday,  dey  did  :  gixyd  rag  carpet 
tacked  tight  am  iiiu^  'nough  Tor  dis  ole  'oman.  Lan' 
sakcs,  how  can  dey  take  ph«asure  sittin'  in  dat  barn 
room,  like  dey  had  no  good  honu^  all  fixed  nice,"  she 
iimllered,  as  the  door  closed  behind  her. 

The  tray  iield  a  light  su|»per,  because  after  dinner  the 

children  said  they  (;onld  not  possil)ly  cat  a  real  su[»per; 

hut  after   Dodo  and   Nat   bad  made  tlirce  trips  to  the 

ikiti'lu'ii    for  fresh  sup|»lii's  (d'  toast   and    bisciiits,  they 

ilt'cidcd  tiiat  it  was  never  safe  to  say  immc(liately  after 

plimicr  tiiat  you  wouhl  not  be  liungry  for  tea. 

«  «  »  «>  w 


136 


FOUJi-FOOTED  AMKUTCANS 


"Poor  old  IJuffalo,"  said  J)odo,  sitting  on  the  sotde 
by  her  niotlier  and  stroking  the  wavy  luiir  of  the 
robe,  "you  were  one  of  tlie  biggest  of  our  fourfonls, 
and  now  all  that  is  left  of  you  is  a  skin  and  a  stulTccl 
face.  Please,  Uncle  Koy,  don't  you  think  the  slvin 
would  feel  more  at  home  over  there  on  the  wall  by  its 
head  than  in  being  sat  on  ?  " 

Amid  the  general  laugh  that  followed,  Nat  went  to 
the  window,  rubbed  the  frost  fron  the  pane,  and  looked 
out. 

"Oh,  daddy!  Oh,  Uncle  Roy!"  he  cried,  "(ho 
moon  is  out,  and  the  snow  looks  smooth  and  crisp  ! 
Could  anytiiing  l)e  jcdlier  for  to-morrow?  Rod  says 
we  can  learn  to  tell  animal  tracks  (juick  as  anything  in 
new  snow.  Suppose  1  should  shoot  a  Rabbit  to  bring 
home  to  mother,  and  Ave  may  even  see  a  Coon  !  Only 
I  thiidv  it  will  be  much  harder  to  hit  a  real  ruiiiiiiig 
Ra1)bit  tiian  our  Deer  target,  even  with  the  littk' 
shot-gun." 


i 


i|  iM  i| 


I  Si! 

II! 


XI 


«ABBIT  TKACKS 


may 

the  two  boys  were  beside  Nut 
and  Hap.  If  you  had  been  there,  you  wouhl  have  seen 
tliiit  they  were  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Hhike,  who  were 
in  as  hii»h  spirits  as  tlie  chihlreu,  and  phiyed  so  many 
pnuiks  tliat  Mammy  linn  coubl  hardly  pour  out  the 
coftVe  for  trying'  to  hide  iier  hinyliter. 

"•  Wliere  is  the  little  shot-gun?"  had  been  Nat's  first 
qnt'slion  on  (*()mint>"  down. 


Is  it  loaded  ? 


'•I    thiidv   not,  but   I   will  look  to  make  sure,"  said 
Mr.  iilake.      "Ah,  (htii't  do  that,"  h(i  added  ((uickly,  as 


Never  d 


o 


Nut  tiied  to  look  down  tiie  ♦•iin  barrel. 
that.  Wiiat  did  I  tell  vou  the  iirst  day  you  shot  at 
the  target?  ()[)en  th(^  gun  here  at  the  breech  by 
imHiiig  down  the  lever  so,  always  being  careful  not  to 
IKiint  it  at  anylxtdy  or  thing.     Never  take  it  for  granted 

137 


!<i' 


138 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMlJliWANS 


I  I 


that  a  gun  is  not  loaded,  and  never  trifle  with  it  nndcr 
any  circumstances.  It  depends  entirely  upon  how  you 
behave  toward  this  little  gun  Avhether  your  uncle  ever 
gives  it  to  you  for  your  own  or  not ;  but  ft)r  the  present 
you  must  be  content  never  to  even  handle  it  except 
when  one  of  us  is  with  you." 

"  Aren't  you  going  to  take  any  nighties  ? "  asked 
Dodo,  who  had  come  down  dressed  in  a  rather  confused 
mass  of  the  warmest  clothes  she  could  lind,  half  hoping 
that,  in  spite  of  everything,  she  might  be  allowed  to  go 
at  the  last  moment. 

"  No,  missy,  the  only  way  we  could  use  nighties  at 
Nez'  camp  would  be  to  put  them  on  over  our  clothes. 
A  good  blanket  apiece  will  be  much  more  useful." 

"  The  stage-driver  from  (*hcstnut  llidge  way  allowed, 
when  he  came  d(>wn  last  night,  they  had  a  big  fall  er 
snow  there  yesterday,  that  is,  big  fer  the  season,"' 
said  Rod,  as  he  drove  up  with  Tom  and  Jerry  in  tlie 
farm  wagon,  deep  with  straw  to  keep  feet  from  chilling. 

"  Why  didn't  you  bring  the  sleigh  ?  "  called  Olive 
from  the  window,  where  she  stood  in  the  dusk  to  watch 
them  off,  wrapped  in  a  down  (piilt. 

"  Snow's  too  soft;  be  all  cut  up  down  by  the  daypo." 

''  There's  an  ohl  sled  in  the  barn,  may  I  take  it  with 
me  ?  If  there's  liiick  snow  at  the  Uidge,  there  may  be 
some  at  Ne//  canq),"  said  Xat,  eagerly. 

'*  We  ha\('  iis  much  as  we  (!an  carry  now,  my  boy," 
said  the  Doctor,  "and  you  nniy  be  very  sure  if  there  is 
enough  siu)W  for  coasting,  Xez  will  have  some  .sort  of  a 
contrivance  for  ynu  to  do  it  with." 

"  ( )h,  look  I  "  cried  I{a[),  pointing  toward  thcsoutlieast. 
'I'he  turnpike  strctclied  a   pure  wiiite  pathway  between ■  (j 


tlie  2Hi 

wJiere  i 

ing  out 

"Goc 

called  L 

and  thei 

in  gener 

'^Vhi 

fatlier,  k 

"  tliat  I  ( 

with  you 

Dodo   lai 

"  unbuild 

"  Let's 

the  gate; 

Why  don" 

him. 

"  Hettei 
"  <>!•  we  m; 
maciiine, 
Iieai'ing  H 

''  Look 

I  didn't  s 

<h)\vn   (he 

«<)nie  tiny 

''  Kabb'ii 

prints.     1 

iiiiollier,  t)| 
ti'lls  (,f  a 

"''Iv    b(;|(>n| 

'^'111  yest< 


liAliUlT  TRACKS 


139 


tlie  purplish  gray  arch  of  bare  maple  branches,  and 
where  it  seemed  to  touch  the  sky,  the  sun  was  saunter- 
iiiL,^  out  from  a  purple  and  gold  gateway. 

"  Good  morning  !  Are  you  all  washed  and  dressed  ?  " 
called  Dodo,  kissing  her  hands  to  the  sun  in  particular 
and  then  stretching  out  her  arms  to  the  beautiful  world 
in  general. 

''  Which  reminds  me,  speaking  of  washing,"  said  her 
father,  kissing  her  and  setting  her  down  inside  the  door, 
"that  I  do  not  believe  you  have  been  on  speaking  terms 
with  your  own  particular  cake  of  soap  this  morning." 
Dodo  laughed  and  went  upstairs  "to,"  as  she  said, 
"nnbuild  her  clothes  and  begin  all  over  again." 

*'  Let's  run,"  said  Tom  to  Jerry,  as  they  turned  out  of 
the  gate;  "I  feel  so  very  fly  that  I  should  like  to  fly. 
Why  don't  you  laugh  ?  That's  a  joke,"  he  continued, 
jogging  Jerry  with  his  shoulder  and  nearly  ui)setting 
liim. 

"  Better  not  try  it,"  said  Jerry,  settling  his  gait  again, 
"  or  we  may  be  put  to  haul  logs,  or  in  the  threshing- 
machine,  instead  of  dragging  a  sleigh,  by  and  by,  and 
liearing  House  People  tell  funny  stories." 

'VLook  at  the  tracks  all  over  the  snow  everywhere, 
I  didn't  see  any  yesterday,"  said  Nat,  as  they  drove 
down  tlie  turn[)ike  ;  "  some  big  and  some  little  and 
some  tiny.      What  do  they  all  belong  to,  daddy?" 

"Rabbits  chiefly,  —  they  are  almost  all  ])ad-footed 
prints.  I  see  one  trail  that  belongs  to  a  Skunk  ;  and 
iuiollier,  tliosc^  shar[)  clean  jumps  by  the  stone  fence, 
tolls  of  a  Mink;  the  smallest,  like  a  bird  track,  prol)- 
;il)iy  l)elongs  to  a  Meadow  Mouse.  You  did  not  see 
tlieni  yesterday  because  the  little  beasts  seldom  come 


"■  <>fMifi»iatiM 


140 


FO  U It- FOOT  ED  AMERICA  NS 


out  until  the  second  day  after  a  snowstorm.  We 
haven't  time  to  stop  for  you  to  look  for  them,  but  we 
shall  find  plenty  more  at  the  mountain." 

"  Rabbits  are  rather  common  everywhere  in  America, 
aren't  tliey  ?  "  asked  Rap. 

"  Yes,  some  member  of  the  family  is  to  be  found 
overywhere,  from  the  Polar  Hare  of  the  Barren  Grounds 
to  the  Jack  Rabbit  of  the  hot  sand-deserts  of  Texas 
and  tiie  soutliern  half  of  the  entire  West." 

"  You  call  some  Rabbits  and  others  Hares.  What  is 
tlie  difference  between  a  Rabbit  and  a  Hare  ?  Don't 
they  belong  to  tlie  same  family  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"''  Perhaps  they  work  in  different  guilds,"  ventured 
Rap. 

'"•  No,"  said  the  Doctor,  "they  all  belong  to  the  long- 
eared,  short-tailed  gnawers,  with  the  patent-jumping 
hind  legs.  The  difference  is,  beside  size,  that  little 
Hares  are  born  in  grassy  nests  with  fur  on  and  their 
eyes  open  ;  while  little  Rabbits  are  naked  and  blind  and 
are  born  in  burrows.  iVU  our  species  are  Hares.  Tiie 
Rabbits  that  House  People  keep  sometimes  as  pets, 
are  true  Rabbits,  children  of  European  parents,  and 
not  American  fourfoots,  tliough  we  still  continue  to 
call  our  Hares,  Rabbits,  the  same  as  we  call  Bisons, 
Buffaloes.' 

"'•  See,  there  goes  a  common  Rabbit  now  !  "  cried  Ivup. 
'"  How  lie  bobs  along  and  then  stops  and  sits  up;  do 
stop  a  second,  Rod.  He's  k)oking  at  something  by  that 
tree  and  doesn't  hear  our  wlieels,  because  of  the  snow!"' 

"  What  (pieer  tracdcs  lie  makes,"  said  Nat.  ''I 
thought  the  two  big  marks  wei-e  made  by  his  lore 
feet  ;    they   look   as   if    he    hopped    backward,   but  lie 


f^ 


% 


A 


jp  j^  -t 


#"4fj 


We 

t  ^Ye 

jriea, 

ound 
junds 

Cexas 

hat  is 
Dou't 

itured 

i  long- 
Linpiug 
little 
1  their 
nd  and 
The 
LS  pets, 

s,  and 
Luue  to 

Bisons, 

id  liivp. 
up  ;  do 

by  tiiiit 
snow ! " 
iit.  "1 
his   fore 

hut  lie 


WtMti)  Maim:. 
((iniy  Riibbit.) 


Ill 


ik 


doesn't. 

know  ? ' 

"  Yes, 

out  for  I 

^'  1  kn 

his  fore  ; 

"  Thei 

tree,"  sa 

nose  tvvii 

you  maki 

"1  woi 

Nat ;  " th 

their  ears 

"It's  b 

cliiisiiig-  th 

"Precis 
one  of  tli€ 
why  poor 
he  is  iiunt 


the  daily 


the  ] 


arofer 


l.iges  or  fJ 

!it  chasing! 

"  There'' 

^V'il}',"  put 

there 'd  be 


and 


uiaum 


1  tl 


•some  on 
"I  doi 

"^lo^v  is  itj 
"  Heart 

"iiniy  wtiy 


RABBIT   TRACKS 


141 


doesn't.     How  me  these  tracks  made,  uncle,  do  you 
know?" 

'-'  Yes,  but  I  am  going  to  let  you  and  Hap  find  that 
out  for  yourselves.*' 

"  I  know,"  said  Rap;  "■  he  swings  his  hind  feet  around 
his  fore  paws.     I've  often  watched  one  do  it." 

"  There  is  a  Downy  Woodpecker  tai)ping  on  the 
tree,"  said  Mr.  Blake.  "  Now  Bunny  sees  it,  and  his 
nose  twitches  as  if  he  were  saying,  '  Hello  I  is  it  only 
you  making  all  that  noise  ?  '  " 

"  1  wonder  what  makes  Rabbits  so  very  scarey,"  said 

Nat ;  "  they  always  seem  to  be  afraid  of  something,  and 

their  ears  never  stop  jerking  and  twitching."  ^   '. 

"It's  because   everybod}^  and  everything  is  always 

cliiising  them,"  said  Rap.     .   . 

"Precisely  !  If  you  could  spend  a  single  day  inside 
cue  of  their  leaf-brown  skins,  you  would  very  soon  see 
why  poor  brother  Rabbit  is  so  timid.  Half  of  the  year 
he  is  hunted  by  man  ;  all  the  year,  in  wild  places,  he  is 
the  daily  meat  of  the  Fox,  Skunk,  Mink,  Wildcat,  and 
the  larger  birds  of  prey,  and  when  he  comes  near  vil- 
lages or  farms  the  house  cats  and  dogs  take  their  turn 
lit  chasin£{  him."  , 

"There's  an  everlastin'  sight  too  many  on  'em  any- 
way," put  in  Rod;  "if  they  wasn't  kep'  down  somehow, 
there'd  be  no  use  farmin'.  If  yon  mean  to  grow  turnips 
and  mangels  nex'  year.  Doctor,  yer'll  have  ter  clear 
some  on  'em  out  o'  tlie  long  wood." 

"1  don't  see  why  tliere  are  any  left  at  all,"  said  Nat ; 
"how  is  it,  uncle  ?  " 

"  Heart  of  Nature  gives  the  smaller,  feebler  animals 
many  ways  of  hiding  and  a  great  many  children,  to 


^ 


n    ■  i 


142 


FOUR-FOOTED  AM  ERIC j^:^^ 


!i 


make  up  for  the  dangers  they  run,  as  \vc;  iounil  he  tlid 
with  the  birds.  You  remember  that  the  Ha\vks  and 
Owls,  with  their  strong  beaks  and  chiws,  who  nest  in 
far-away  lonely  places,  laid  fewer  eggs  than  the  birds 
who  were  weaker,  or  more  exposed  to  danger.  You 
know  that  the  Ruffed  Grouse  and  Bob-white,  whose 
nests  are  on  the  ground,  have  a  great  many  eggs,  and 
are  protected  beside  by  the  likeness  in  color  of  their 
feathers  to  the  leaves  and  rocks.  Color  protection,  it 
is  called." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  remember,"  said  Nat.  "  Then  do  the 
fourfoots  have  this  color  protection  too,  and  do  they 
moult  their  fur  as  birds  do  feathers  and  change  color?" 

"  Don't  you  remember  the  Buffalo  moulted  his  hair 
every  spring,  and  looked  as  miserable  and  ragged  as 
any  old  rooster  ?  "  said  Rap. 

"  Yes,  of  course,  but  he  didn't  change  color  very 
much,  only  sort  of  faded,  and  then  plenty  of  birds  like 
Sparrows  and  Thrushes  don't  change  much  either." 

"  Several  of  our  fourfoots  change  color  as  completely 
every  year  as  the  Bobolink  or  Tanager,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"Bf  'F  'I*  ^i-  '  ^ 

They  reached  the  station  not  a  minute  too  soon. 
After  settling  themselves  in  the  passenger  car,  —  for 
there  was  only  one  and  one  baggage  truck,  —  as  the  frost 
was  too  thick  on  the  windows  for  them  to  look  out,  they 
continued  their  talk  about  Rabbits. 

"  How  long  must  we  stay  in  these  cars  ?  They  ure 
dreadfully  stuffy,"  said  Nat,  as  he  took  off  his  cap  and 
scarf  and  helped  Rap  to  unwind  his.      v 

"Less  than  an  liour,"  said  the  Doctor.  "We  go 
around  tlie  hills  and  the  mountain  and  stop  the  other 


side,  ins 
we  drov 
"  How 
daddy,  a 
chucks,  ( 
"  Our 
wish  hin 
made  by 
form  nia( 
young  in 
soft  fur, 
Tliree  tin 
nestful  of 
there  are 
the  Wilde 
not  Jiave  g 
cat  have  t 
"  Are  tl 
try  beside 
"Twelv 
interest  y( 
"Do  te 
make  it  sc 
these  cars I 


RABBIT  TBACKS 


143 


side,  instead  of  going  tlirougli  and  over  as  we  did  when 
wo  drove  there  hist  month." 

•■'How  many  children  do  Rabbits  have  every  year, 
daddy,  and  where  do  they  live,  —  in  holes  like  Wood- 
cliucks,  or  haystack  houses  like  Muskrats?" 

"  Our  Gray  Rabbit,  or  Wood  Hare,  as  the  AVise  Men 
wish  him  called,  hides  in  holes  or  buirows,  generally 
made  by  some  other  animal,  sleeps  or  lests  often  in  a 
form  made  by  its  body  in  the  grass,  anl  cares  for  its 
young  in  a  ground  nest,  lined  with  grass(!S  and  its  own 
soft  fur,  which  hides  the  little  J3unnies  from  sight. 
Three  times  a  year  a  single  pair  of  Haros  may  have  a 
nestful  of  young  to  care  for,  so  you  can  easily  see  why 
there  are  plenty  of  them.  But  the  Wolf,  the  Bear,  and 
the  Wildcat,  who  have  protecting  teeth  and  claws,  do 
not  have  so  many  young.  In  fact,  the  Bear  and  Wild- 
cat have  to  be  content  with  only  three  or  four." 

"  Are  there  many  other  kinds  of  Rabbits  in  this  coun- 
try beside  the  Wood  Hare  ?  "  asked  Rap. 

"Twelve  or  more,  though  four  or  five  are  all  that  will 
interest  you." 

"  Do  tell  us  about  them  now,"  begged  Nat,  "  it  won't 
make  it  seem  so  long  in  getting  to  Chestnut  Ridge,  and 
these  cars  are  so  slow  !  " 

" '  Yet  the  way  seemed  long  before  him, 
And  his  heart  outran  his  footsteps  I ' " 

Immmed  the  Doctor. 

"What  does  that  mean?  It's  poetry,"  said  Rap, 
"but  I  don't  understand  it." 

"It  means  that  when  you  want  to  get  to  a  place  very 
much,  you  wish  yourself  there  so  much  faster  than  you 


n      iiV: 


■^    ii9 


I? 


nil;  i.'; 


•'vmmmmmmimmmtm 


144 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


can  possibly  travel,  tliat  the  journey  seems  about  four 
times  as  long  as  it  really  is !  " 

"  If  we  hear  about  Rabbits  now,  won't  Dodo  be  dis- 
appointed?" asked  kind-hearted  llap. 

"  1  have  pictures  of  them  in  my  portfolio,  and  you 
boys  nnist  remeuiber  and  tell  her  all  about  them. 

"  Of  these  four  Rabbits  the  Wood  Hare,  the  smallest 
and  prettiest,  is  something  less  tiian  a  foot  and  a  half 
long  from  the  tip  of  his  nose  to  the  root  of  his  cunning 
little  turned-up  white  tail." 

"'•  Is  that  tiie  way  you  measure  fourfoots,  to  tlie  he- 
jl'uininn  of  llieir  tails?"  asked  Rap.  ''We  measure 
birds  to  the  end  of  the  tail." 

"  Ves,  but  a  bird's  tail  where  it  joins  the  body  is  so 
overlaid  with  feathers  tluit  it  is  dillicult  to  tell  where  it 
Ix'gins  and  tlu^  body  ends  ;  with  fourfoots  it  is  diffci- 
ent.  If  I  sliould  tell  you,  for  instance,  that  a  Red  Fox 
was  four  feet  long,  you  would  thiid-c  him  nnu'h  lonnor 
thiUi  lie  is,  and  not  understand  his  size  as  well  as  if  1 
said  his  body  was  two  and  a  half  and  his  tail  one  and  a 
half  feet  h»ng." 

"Yes,  I  see;  if  the  tail  was  measured  in,  he  would 
seem  a  giant." 

"The  \Vood  IFare  has  lai'ge  eyes,  long  ears,  the  loiii"' 
hind  legs  oi  the  family,  also  fur  snow-shoes  on  the  soli's 
of  his  ft!et." 

"What  good  ar('  sucli  long  back  legs?"  asked  Nat. 

" 'I'o  jiimj)  with;  every  animal  family  has  some  |iai'- 
ticular  way  of  moving,  —  loconiotion  it  is  called,  —  and 
Hares  are  leapers,  which  is  told  in  the  liatin  naiiic 
Ji'pH»  the  Wise  Men  give  them." 

"Does  tiiis  Hare  ever  (diau'jre  color  and  moult?" 


"  He 

a  grayi.v 

whitish 

moult  s] 

tliat  tlie_ 

that  gro 

tliins  on 

most  pro 

of  more 

in  the  Sc 

old  hair  1 

liiiir  of  0 

woods  wJ 

gardens  j 

hut  he  sj 

there  is  tl 


i  foui' 

lI  you 

iiallt'st 
a  iKilf 


iimiii<^ 


tlie  he- 
leiisiivo 

ly  is  so 

rlieri'  it 

(lilTci- 

ed  Fox 

iis  if  1 
le  luxl  a 

I'    \V(Ull(l 

lie  Ioh'j: 
he  Sdlt's 

.(1  Ni.i. 


)UU' 

|iiir- 

u- 

-  ami 

iii 

mmii' 

ll? 

4 « 

liA  mUT   TRACKS 


145 


"•  lie  kee[)s  xavy  niueli  the  same  color  all  the  year,  — 

ii  grayish    brown    to[)   coat  with  hits  of  yellow  and  a 

wliitish  vest.     As  to  moulting,  all  fur-hearinuf  animals 

moult  sprincf  and  fall,  and  have  a  long  hairy  covering 

that  they  wear  all  the  year,  and  a  ^hort  soft  under-fur 

tliiit  grows  thick  to  keep  them   warm   in  winter  and 

thins  out   in   spring.     Animals  from   the   North  need 

most  protection  and  have  the  thickest  under-fur,  so  are 

of  more  value  than  the  same  sort  of  animal  who  lives 

ill  the  S(mth  and  has  little  need  of  under-fur.      All  the 

old  hair  has  its  time  of  breaking  and  sheddins.'"  like  the 

hair  of  our  own  heads.     '*  This  Hare  likes  to  live  near 

woods  where  he  can  find  tender  shoots  to  nibble,  when 

uanlens  are  empty  and  meadows  c(»vere(l  with  snow  ; 

hut  he  spends  most  of  his   time   in   brush  lots  where 

there  is  thick  shelter,  and  he  lives  in  every  state  in  the 

Union  that  can  yield  him  food.      Pretty  and  gentle  he 

is,  yet  no  one  can  deny  that  he  is  a  mischief- ii  iker,  and 

while  he  must  not  be  allowed  to  eat  our  lettuce,  cab- 

hau'es,  oi   held   roots,  we  must  also   be  careful  not   t 


o 


extcrmin 


ate  1 


iiin. 


''What  good  does  he  do?  ('an  he  earn  his  living 
iiiid  pay  his  taxes  ?  " 

"  Ves,  he  does,  in  a  roundabout  way,  by  being  food 
for  some  other  animal,  who  would  eat  more  valuable 
tilings  if  it  were  not  for  jxtor  little  iiunny. 

"Anothei'  Hare  which  might  be  mistaken  for  the 
dray  Uabbit  is  his  swanii»-loving  cousin,  the  Marsh  Hare 
who  lives  south  of  North  Carolina,  taking  to  the  water 
like  a  rat.  'IMiis  Marsh  Hare  has  a  large  head,  short 
ears  and  legs,  and  little  or  no  hair  on  its  soles,  so  that 
its  footprints  show  the  mark  of  the  toe-nails.     Its  coat 


14G 


FOUn-FOOTET'   A MEIiWANS 


is  darker  in  wiiiU^i'  lliiiii  in  siimiiKir,  iiiid  is  jilway,;  \\ 
(l('('|K'i'  hrowii  lliiin  llic  Wood  I  lure's,  and  its  tail  i  a 
mere  sera])  liiie<l  wilii  i^ray." 

"'  Wliy  do  tliey  iiavo  shorter  ears  and  legs  than  he 
Wood  Ilai'e.  and  no  tiir  nnder  tlieir  feet?"  asked  ^',it. 

•••  Mammals,  liki'  ])irds,  are  all  adapted  to  the  pla  (i.s 
in  wliieli  Iht^y  live.  A  Hare  living  in  open  woods  iiid 
lields  mnst  liavc;  h)ng  legs  to  give  him  speed  to  run  to 
cover  and  h>ng  ears  to  eateh  tiie  least  sound  of  daiiL;er. 
Tiie  openings  of  their  ears  are  sidewise,  thougli  tiiev 
can  move  tiiem  forward  and  l)a(dv  when  they  are  listen- 
ing. 'V\\(\  sensi'  of  smell  and  luniring  in  the  gnawiiio- 
fourfoots  seems  to  Ix;  chicjtly  used  to  tell  them  wIhmc 
tlujir  enemies  are  ;  whih;  the  ears  and  noses  of  tlie  llcsli 


* 

/ 

> 

^■r 

/ 

i 

i'  1 

Mausu  IIauk. 


liAIililT   TRACKS 


147 


;U  '.lie 

plii  'I'S 
Is   IMUI 

run  to 
[ani;t'i'. 
\\  they 
lisU'U- 
luiwiu;^' 
I  wlieni 
lie  llt'sli 


eaters  serve  to  o'uide  tliem  totlie  {iiiimal  food  they  Imiit. 
The  ears  of  the  cannibal  beasts  open  forward,  and  have 


111  tie    pockets    in    their    ontsid 
lioiirds,  to  catch  the  s(  unds  conim 


d 


edufes, 


lik 


ice    so 


undi 


ng 


Q"  from  behind  them. 


Why,   Mr.    Wolf   and  (^uick  have  those  things   in 


ears. 


Wa  often    wondei'ed  whether    they  were 


their 

tears  or  bites,  or  imnh^  so  on  pni-posc,"  said  Nat. 

'•To  return  to  our  Marsh  I  Fare,  who  lives  in  soft 
(Tiound.  hiding  by  (h'list!  l)ushes  and  often  hides  in  the 
wiiter  itself  with  Ids  ears  Hattened  back  and  only  his 
eves  and  nose  peejiing  above  it.  what  use  would  long 
leL;'s  be  to  him  ?  lie  does  not  go  into  farms  and  gar- 
dens for  his  food,  but  browses  on  twigs  and  marsh  roots, 
lie  could  not  leaj)  about  in  such  places,  and  hairy  soles 
weiild  make  his  b'ct  heavy  and  soggy  when  he  swin.s, 
luid  he  slinks  along  close  to  the  ground  when  on  land. 
His  greatest  danger  is  fi-om  great  water  snakes  and 
alligators.  His  nest,  made  of  ehewed-up  reeds  some- 
times nicely  arched  like  a  Mcadowlark's,  is  often  placed 
(til  so  small  a  hummock  that  it  seems  to  Hoat  like  that 
of  a  marsh  binl,  and  the  very  young  Marsh  Hares  have 
luiiiiy,  chubby  little  heads  (piite  unlike  the  little  Wood 
Ihnv". 

'•  ^ Oil  must  go  (|uiti'  across  country  if  you  exj)ect  to 
tiiid  llie  third  Hare  of  tlu^  grouj).  If  you  move  west 
t(i  Te\as  in  a  straight  line  from  tlu^  Marsh  Hare's 
liiniiils,  you  will  liud  the  most  astonishing  member  of 
llie  Hare  family.  Anvwhere  from  Texas  to  Montana, 
itr  Iroiii  Missouri  to  the  i'acilie.  if  you  see  a  cloud  of 
(liist  following  the  ground  in  the  open,  (U' a  ininiature 
cvcldiie  part  the  grass,  stop  a  bit  and  watch.  What 
is  it  L;oiiig   by  '/     A    blow  ii-away  w  indmill,  a  Kangaroo 


M 


148 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


turning  somersaults,  a  mechanical  flail  escaped  from 
its  inventor?  No,  only  a  Jackass  Rabbit  (called  Jack 
for  sliort),  the  largest  and  best  known  of  this  south- 
ern group.  When  Jack  pauses,  you  will  find  him  a 
curious  combination  of  Donkey's  ears  joined  to  lono- 
legs  by  a  skinny  bit  of  a  body  about  two  feet  loii^-, 
covered  above  with  light  brown  hairs  tipped  and  stripcil 
with  black,  and  a  black,  tail  three  inches  long,  all  tliis 
standing  on  large  })ad  feet.  Jack  looks  as  stupid  as 
his  hoofed  namesake,  but  as  he  whirls  along  to  spread 
ruin  to  held,  garden,  and  orchard,  with  his  endless 
appetite,  you  cannot  but  admire  the  muscle  and  endur- 
ance  of  this  prince  of  (Jnawers.  Jack  Rabbits  swaim 
over  their  range  in  vast  troops.  Ten,  lifteeu,  or  even 
twenty   thousand  at  one   time   have    been  surrounded 


.lA<  K    ItMIIHT. 


and  dr 
the  sai 
loes. 
siiry,  if 
are  to 
Kabbits 
sportsui 
cities  tc 
meat." 

"  Arei 
kt'ep  tile 
"  Ves, 
on   tliem 
•stole  yon 
and    killt 
langlied, 
things,  I( 
and  off 
lilc;  a  Ja( 
Jiini  in  a 
between  ; 
tfuiced  J 
'lid  in  a  I 
"Th    . 
and    Ii,,h( 

paMicnhir 
■•^'I'vp.  and 
and  eatthi 
H'liat  snil 
I'"'  end  of 
"iVrliaj 


tr 


BABBIT  TRACKS 


149 


and  driven  into  pens  and  slaughtered,  very  much  after 
the  same  fashion  that  tlie  Indians  trapped  the  Buffa- 
loes. Though  this  sounds  cruel,  it  seems  to  be  neces- 
sary, if  the  great  crops,  that  mean  bread  to  the  country, 
aiu  to  be  saved.  N(j\v,  instead  of  merely  killing  the 
Rabbits  and  letting  the  tlesh  go  to  waste,  thoughtful 
sportsmen  have  uiade  a  plan  to  send  them  to  nearby 
cities  to  be  food  for  the  poor  who  can  buy  but  little 
meat." 

'*  Aren't  there  any  other  fourfoots  out  there  to  help 
keep  the  Jacks  down?"  asked  Rap. 

•'  Y^es,  the  Coyotes,  or  I'rairie  Wolves,  used  to  feed 
on  them,  but  pco[)le  found  that  these  little  Wolves 
stole  young  calves  jind  si\eep,  and  tliey  turned  about 
and  killed  so  many  of  them  that  the  Jack  Rabbits 
laughed,  shook  ilieir  ears,  and  said,  '  We  are  good 
things,  let  us  eat  more  an<l  raise  a  great  many  children,' 
and  off  they  whirled  again.  No  other  beast  can  run 
liki'  a  Jack  Rabbit  ;  tlie  swiftest  Jiorse  cannot  overtake 
him  ill  a  fair  chase,  aiul  there  is  a  famous  race  recorded 
hetween  a  Jack  and  a  greyhound,  wlnue  tlie  Hare  dis- 
tiinced  his  pursuer  for  two  miles  and  a  half  and  then 
hid  in  a  log,  leaving  the  hound  (piite  s[)ent. 

"  Tl'  lesidt  of  the  Jack  Ra]>)>its  living  as  they  pleased 
and  Indding  liigli  carnival  was  a  series  of  hunts  in 
wliicli  thousands  wiu'c  killed  ;  then  tiiM  Coyotes  in  that 
|taili('uliU'  spol.  li;s''Mg  no  Ja(d<s  to  fid,  took  calves, 
sh('(^|».  and  |)oultr\  !(ol(lly.  and  so  trouble  foi'  ihe  farnun- 
and  cattle  raisers  ndls  along  between  the  two  animals. 
Wliiil  suits  the  rant  hman  doi's  not  suit  the  farmer,  and 
till'  end  of  thi5  war  is  not  yet  in  sight." 
"I'i'rha|>s   an  cartlMiuake   may  swallow  them   all, — 


'■!".'.'^J-J^f-''.'ii»iJ,M» 


150 


FOU It- FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Jacks  and  Coyotes,"  said  Nat,  cheerfully.     "  No  oiiu 
would  mind,  would  tliey,  uncle  ?  " 

"  I  am  quite  sure  they  would  not,"  said  the  Doctor, 
laughing;  "and  it  would  be  one  less  thing  for  animal 
lovers  to  worry  about." 

"  We  are  quite  lucky  to  have  such  a  nice  sort  t.f 
Rabbit  living  here,  even  if  it  does  eat  a  little  nioie 
than  we  can  spare,"  said  Nat.  ''  But  you  haven't  tuld 
us  about  the  kind  that  changes  his  volor  every  year. 
What  is  it  called,  and  does  that  live  in  the  North  or 
South  ?  " 

"It  is  named  the  Varying  Hare  and  lives  northward 
from  the  state  of  New  York,  up  to  Ciiiiada  and  the 
northwestern  parts  :>f  British  America.  In  fac^  its 
haunts  in  the  Northwest  touch  and  overlap  those  ot  llie 
Polar  Hare,  wh(>  lives  as  far  north  as  man  has  hern, 
and  is  the  conq)anit)n  of  the  Musk  Ox  and  Polar  Bear. 
In  that  far-away  liome  this  Hare  always  stays  the  color 
of  the  surrounding  snow. 

"In  size  this  Varying  Hare  comes  between  the  Jack 
Babbit  and  Marsh  Hare  ;  it  has  much  of  Jack's  length 
of  limbs,  ears,  and  [)ower  of  running,  though  it  is, 
i()rtunately,  not  as  destructive.  It  has  furry  feet  like 
oui'  Wood  Hare,  and  the  feeding  and  living  hal)ils  of 
the  two  ai'c  very  much  alike,  exce[)t  that  the  V^iryiiijr 
Hare  is  more  rarely  seen  about  in  full  daylight  and 
])refers  in  feed  towM'd  evening,  or  in  the  night,  like  so 
many  of  <mr  f«)urfooli>.  The  (diangc  of  color  is  wlial 
calls  our  attention  to  it.  In  sumnu'r  its  gencn'al  liuc 
is  re(Mish  hrown.  many  of  the  long  hairs  having  l)la('k 
tips.  Its  nndcrpai'ts  ar((  white  and  y*dl()wish  and  it> 
little    turn('(l-np  tail    is  white   and   Huffy,   so   that    tin 


RABBIT  TRACKS 


151 


name  Cotton  'i\iil  iipplies  to  it  as  well  as  to  our  Wood 
Mare.  Tliis  dress  is  worn  from  April  to  November,  or 
a  trirte  earlier  or  later  aceordinj^  to  location.  During 
autumn  or  early  winter,  in  its  most  northern  haunts, 
it  becomes  almost  white  with  the  exception  of  a  f(^w 
(lark  hairs  that  fringe  the  ears.     How  is  this  done  ?" 


t 

.  J^VJ 

i^r  / 

^^^^(^^^B 

f  xHHBj? 

/'A 

'  i 

^m 

''■?i    /^'''P^^ 

i/'*^; 

^^'^'•— ^ 

^wUk          .   4i^^ — "^^ 

VAUVINti    HaKK. 


"Moulting!"  said  the  boys  together.  "•  Moult ing 
(lie  dark  summer  iiiiir,  and  getting  new  white  hair  for 
winter." 

"  Tliiit  is  the  way  thiit  I  believer  th(^  change  is  miide, 
Itiil  IIm'  Wise  M«'n  iiinc  disagreiMl  abtnit  this  for  some 
liiiie.  Some  of  tiieiii  tiiink  that  the  brown  summei'  fur 
jTi'ows  longer  and  ciiimges  white  at  the  approiich  of 
winter.     Others    that   the    new   winter  coat  conies  in 


162 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


brown  and  then  blanches,  wliile  others  confess  that  the} 
have  not  yet  decided. 

"You  know  I  told  you  a  few  minutes  ago  that  our  fur 
animals  have  a  soft  under-fur  beside  the  long  hairs. 
Some  Wise  Men  say  these,  in  the  Varying  Hare,  are 
quite  black  in  summer,  but  as  soon  as  very  cold  weather 
touches  them  they  begin  to  grow  white  at  the  tips.  As 
the  cold  continues  the  white  spreads  down,  until  in 
very  cold  climates  the  whole  hair  grows  white,  and  tlio 
thick  under-fur  also  comes  in  white.  They  say  tliat  in 
spring,  when  the  cold  is  over,  the  little  white  tips  break 
off  the  long  hairs  and  the  color  comes  back  to  the  lower 
parts  until  sucli  times  as  they  are  pushed  out  by  new 
hair ;  but  animals  like  the  Arctic  Fox,  Polar  Hare,  and 
Bear  always  stay  in  the  cold  and  snow  and  so  are  always 
protected  by  a  white  coat." 

"  Why  do  you  think  this  Hare  moults  and  grows  new 
white  fur,  uncle  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  Because  I  have  examined  many  specimens  shot  at 
different  seasons,  and  I  found  thai  the  white  fur  is 
much  finer  and  softer  than  the  brown  summer  coat,  — 
a  fact  very  easily  seen  on  the  nose  and  ear  tips,  where 
the  change  begins  ;  in  fact,  the  white  winter  fur  seems 
to  me  to  be  of  an  entirely  different  texture,  without 
the  grain  and  stiffness  of  the  summer  coat.  Perhaps 
one  of  you  boys  will,  some  day  in  the  future,  be 
the  very  one  wlio  will  settle  this  matter  —  who  knows  ? 
But  whether  this  IIiiic  clianges  by  moulting  or  not,  in 
places  where  it  is  not  so  cohl  only  the  tips  of  the  outer 
fur  are  white,  and  he  looks  merely  snow  si)rinkled.  So 
you  see  varyiufi  is  a  very  good  name  for  the  Hare,  as  he 
even  varies  according  to  the  place  where  he  lives." 


"I 

Jiap. 
"A 

AvllO    ] 

the  l{ 
surpri 
asking 


RABBIT  TRACKS 


153 


a 


I  suppose  there  is  some  reason  for  that  too,"  said 
llap. 

"  All  through  with  the  Rabbits  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Blake, 
Avho  had  been  in  the  baggage  car.  "  We  shall  be  at 
the  Ridge  in  a  few  minutes,  and  I  tnink  you'll  find  a 
surprise  waiting  for  you.  No,  I  won't  tell  ;  no  use  in 
asking. 

"  Did  the  Doctor  say  anything  about  the  Little  Chief 
Hare,  a  sort  of  a  cousin  to  Cotton  Tails,  who  stands  up, 
puts  his  hands  in  his   pockets,  and  whistles  ? "  asked 
Mr.  Blake,  quickly,  to  divert  the  boys'  attention.    "  Yes, 
I'm  not  joking,  for  I've  seen  them  stand  up  and  heard 
them  whistle,  though  I  won't   be   positive   about   the 
pockets." 
"  Do  they  live  near  here  ?  "  asked  Rap. 
"No,  miles  and  miles  away.     The  first  one  I  ever 
saw  was  when  I  was  prospecting  with  our  survey  in 
autumn,  along  a  cliff  beyond  the  Missouri  divide.     I 
heard  a  queer  little  noise,  something  between  a  cry,  a 
squeal,  and  a  whistle,  coming  from  a  pile  of  slide  rock. 
I  waited  a  minute,  and   the   sound   came   again  and 
seemed   to   either  echo   or   be   repeated   from   several 
places.     Presently  out  hopped  or  rather  hobbled,  for 
they  move  slowly,  a  couple  of  queer  little  beasts  not 
eight   inches   long,  with  wavy   brown  and  black  fur, 
small  round  ears,  real  Guinea  Pig  faces,  and  nothing 
but  a  sort  of  bump  for, a  tail.     I  said  to  myself,  'You 
look  something  like  a  Gopher,  but   you're   not ;    you 
look  as  if  you  had  tried  to  be  a  Guinea  Pig,  but  failed 
im  aocount  of  the  climate.     Who  are  you?" 

"  One  of  our  i)arty  told   nie  all  its  names,  —  Pika, 
Little  Chief,  or  Whistling  1 1  are,  and  before  I  left  that 


III 


i 


154 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


region  I  saw  a  Pika  lioiiseliold,  inside  a  little  loose 
tower  of  flat  slide  rock.  What  do  yon  think,  but 
the  little  fellows  had  a  regnlar  liay  ](<ii  in  there  when^ 
they  had  cnt  stout  grass  and  brouglit  ii  in  bundles  in 
their  mouths,  packing  it  away  on  the  stone  shelves  us 
neat  as  you  i)lease,  to  have  it  ready  for  winter  food.  1 
knew  the  hillside  was  full  of  these  little  beasts,  for 
they  kept  squealing  like  a  colony  of  singing  mice." 

"  Who  would  think  that  theie  is  so  much  difference 
between  Rabbit  cousins,"  sighed  Rap,  as  if  he  was  op- 
pressed by  the  amount  there  was  to  learn  even  about 
the  simplest  fourfoots.  "  Different  lengtlis  of  ears  and 
legs  ;  even  their  scraps  of  tails  are  different." 

"  Speaking  of  tails,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  there  is  a 
great  deal  more  meaning  in  them  than  people  usually 
think.  When  a  Hare  is  running  you  may  have  a  poor 
view  of  his  head,  but  if  you  see  his  tail,  it  will  give  you 
a  clftw  to  his  name,  for  each  species  wears  his  in  a  dif- 
tereiit  way." 

"  Chestnut  Ridge  !  Change  for  Saw  Mills  and  the 
Junction  I  "  called  a  brakeman,  throwing  open  the  car 
door. 

Rap,  who  had  kept  his  crutch  ready  during  tlie  last 
half  of  the  journey,  reached  the  door  as  soon  as  Nat. 
There  was  the  surprise  in  front  of  tliem.  Good  sleigli- 
ing,  a  big  wood  sled  piled  with  l)hinkets  to  drag  them 
to  Nez'  camp,  and  Olaf  for  driver  ! 


bill 
he  11 5 

!S  in 
as  as 
I.  I 
„  for 


renco 
IS  op- 
about 

L's  and 


)  18  a 
isually 
a  poor 
ve  you 
a  dif- 

,nd  the 
Ithe  car 

the  last 


as 


Nat. 
f  them 


m 


^, 


^<.^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^  >. 


&c 


^ 


/^^^ 


4 


-^ 


H     ^ 


1.0     ^lii  1^ 

1.1     f.-^KS 


L25  flliu 


li& 


1.6 


%'s- 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIIT  MAIN  STRUT 

WltSTH.N.Y    I4SI0 

(7U)l7a-4S03 


\ 


o'^ 


-.,- p.,,«n»».-,a.»../. 


n 


X 


IfN 


m 


I 


camp  t\v\ 
Olaf,  lau 
"The  fir| 
second  b| 
liorso  t\v( 
find  there 

Jioiivd  tJiel 
lie  tell  yoj 
"  Wood 

''"'"irfoofH,! 
''oxsiiid  J 

|'''»\vii  to  t\ 

M'<»ni  the 


XII 


THE   WINTER   WOODS 


LAF !  Oliif !  How  did  you  know 
we  were  coming  this  way?  Nez 
wrote,  'Never  mind  accepting, 
but  come,'  and  so  we  did ! " 
cried  Nat,  before  they  had  ex- 
changed greetings  with  their 
old  friend.  "  Beside,  I  thought 
you  lived  too  far  off,  —  miles 
farther  away  than  Nez." 
"A  Fox  came  to  the  lumber 
camp  two  nights  ago  and  barked  three  times,"  replied 
Olaf,  laughing  shyly  as  he  glanced  at  the  Doctor. 
"The  first  bark  said,  'Some  one  thinks  of  you.'  The 
second  bark,  '  Go  to  the  stopping-place  of  the  iron 
horse  two  days  hence.'  The  third  bark  said,  'You  will 
find  there  those  you  greatly  love,'  so  here  I  am." 

"  A  Fox,  how  could  he  know  about  us  ;  though  I've 
ho;ivd  they  are  very  wise,  and  if  he  did  know  how  could 
I  he  toll  you?"  said  Nat,  very  much  puzzled. 

''  Wood  people  understand  tlie  sign  language  of  the 
Ifourfoots,"  replied  Olaf,  "and  to  show  that  what  this 
Fox  said  was  true,  next  morning  when  I  drove  my  team 
Uowii  to  the  Saw  Mills,  there  I  saw  a  yellow  fire-letter 
lom  the  good  Doctor,  telling  me  the  same  thing." 

165 


"■""""■'"—--'"• 


i 


156 


FO  Ult-FOOTEl)  A  ME  It  WANS 


"  What  is  a  fire-letter  ?  "  asked  Kap. 

"The  letter  wliose  words  come  as  lightning  sparks," 
said  Ohif,  wlio,  in  trying  to  puzzle  the  boys,  fell  into 
the  picture  language  so  common  in  tlie  north  countries. 

"  Oil,  a  telegram,  of  course  !  "  cried  Rap. 

"  But  the  Fox,"  persisted  Nat.  "  I  don't  uuderstaiul 
about  him."  ^ 

"  Hush,  do  not  speak  loud  or  he  may  hear  you,  for 
it  was  a  very  shy  Fox  that  brought  me  the  news,  —  u 
Dream  Fox  !  "  ' 

"  Oh,  how  you  fooled  us  I  "  shouted  Nat. 

"  No,  I  don't  call  it  fooling,"  said  Raj),  quite 
seriously  ;  "  a  Dream  Fox  may  be  cousin  of  a  Night- 


mare I 


I 


So  they  started  on  their  sleigh-ride  in  a  very  jolly 
mood,  and  in  a  few  minutes  left  behind  the  dozen 
houses  and  store  that  was  called  Chestnut  Ridge,  as 
they  cut  down  into  one  of  the  narrow  valley  roads 
that  finally  zig-zagged  up  toward  Nez'  camp. 

"  It  takes  more  to  make  a  mountain  out  in  the  far 
west  country  than  it  does  here,  doesn't  it,  daddy?" 
asked  Nat. 

"  Ves,  1  rather  think  it  does;  but  there  is  moivi 
comfort  and  beauty  to  the  square  inch  in  one  of  (niij 
mountains,  even  if  they  do  seem  only  molehills  coin- 
pared  to  the  Rockies." 

"I  see  nuue  Rabbit  tracks,"  said  |{a[),  "and  <\k\ 
tracks,  too,  —  dogs  that  have  been  chasing  tlieni,-j 
over  by  those  rocks  !  " 

"Not  (h)g,  but  Fox  tracks,"  said  Olaf,  "though  tin 
print  itself  might  be  of  a  dog." 

"Then  how  do  you  know  it  isn't?" 


THE   WINTER    WOODS 


157 


Eell  into 
ouiitrit's. 

derstiuul 

you,  for 
.ews,  —  a 


:ap,  quite 
a  Niglit- 


"  I  will  show  you  this  thing  that  you  may  under- 
staiul  a  little  of  the  wood  language,"  said  Olaf,  pulling 
u[)  the  horses.  "  You  need  not  fear  to  stick  in  the 
snow  ;  it  is  even,  hut  not  deep,"  he  said  to  Hap,  lielping 
him  down  very  gently.  "  Keep  hehind  nie,  so  that  we 
may  follow  these  tracks  without  trampling  them  down. 
Are  the  Fox  tracks  coming  toward  us  or  going  away  ?" 

"  Coming  toward  us." 

"  Wa  will  follow  them  bacikward  to  see  where  they 
start." 

So  saying  they  tracked  the  footprints  a  couple  of 
juuidred  feet  around  some  hazel  bushes,  then  on  by  a 
little  knoll  until  they  euded,  or  rather  began,  in  a  low 
opening  between  some  rocks  and  a  partly  decayed  log. 
Here  the  snow  was  trodden  down  and  mixed  with  earth 
anil  several  red  splashes,  while  foot-prints  returned  to 
tlio  hole  from  a  different  direction. 

''Dogs  do  not  live  in  ground  burrows  or  between 
rocks  ;  now  you  see  it  is  a  Fox.  Here  the  Fox  went 
out  hungry,  very  early  this  morning,  for  the  j)rints  are 
cluar.  There  at  the  other  side  he  returned  with  food, 
—  the  blood  stains  are  not  more  than  three  hours  old. 
It  was  not  a  bird  he  brought,  but  something  heavier 
that  [>artly  dragged  on  the  ground,  for  there  are  marks 
lii'ie  and  there  in  the  snow. 

"Turn  now  and  follow  the  outgoing  prints  and  you 
will  see  what  has  hai)peue(l;  It  is  not  along  courst', 
tor  this  Fox  found  his  breakfast  (]uickly,  Fm  thinking." 

Thoy  turned  alxnit  and  retraced  their  steps  until  at 
Hast  Olaf  pointed  to  where  Uabbit  tracks  came  fn)m 
unilcr  some  bushes  and  went  in  the  same  direction  as 
the  Fox  nnirks. 


lill 


168 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  Here  came  the  Rabbit,  but  much  earlier  than  the 
Fox,  for  his  prints  are  crusted  ;  now  they  run  to- 
gether." 

"  Was  the  Fox  chasing  the  Rabbit  ?  I  should  think 
Bunny  could  run  the  fastest,"  said  Rap. 

"  No,  not  chasing,  but  following  him  by  scent.  See ! 
here  the  Rabbit  has  stopped  to  nibble  twigs  and  buds. 
Ah!  now  we  have  the  battlefield  :  the  Rabbit  nestled 
in  the  snow,  the  Fox  came  here  and  crouched,  waiting 
for  Bunny  to  move  before  springing.  The  end  was 
beyond  in  the  open." 

The  boys  looked  and  saw  where  the  snow  was  beaten 
down  and  covered  with  little  tufts  of  fur,  and  from 
there  were  no  more  Rabbit  tracks,  only  a  single  trail 
leading  back  toward  the  den,  brightened  here  and  there 
by  blood  marks. 

"  The  Fox  family  had  a  good  breakfast,  anyway," 
said  Nat,  cheerfully.  "  How  I  wish  I  could  have  peeped 
into  tlieir  house.     Can  we  ?  " 

"  I  think  we  must  hurry  back ;  they  will  be  cold, 
waiting  in  the  sleigh." 

Soon  the  road  met  and  followed  the  river  and  was 
quite  shut  in  on  the  north  by  hemlock  woods. 

"There  is  a  very  big  mark, — a  Woodchuck  track," 
said  Nat,  pointing  to  a  broad  trail  that  came  close  tol 
the  road  and  wont  toward  the  wood  again.     "  I  didn't  I 
know  tliey  lived  in  such  wild  [daces." 

"  It  can't  be  a  Woodchuck,  they  lude  up  before  it| 
gets  as  cold  as  this,  you  know,"  said  Kap. 

"Hole  up;   no,  I  don't  know.      What  do  you  mean?'! 

"Why,  they  d(m't  like  cold,  and  go  into  their  hole*| 
and  stay  there  until  spring." 


han  the 
run  to- 
ld think 

t.     See ! 
tnd  buds, 
t  nestled 
,  waiting 
end  was 

ras  beaten 

and  from 

mgle  trail 

and  tliere 


anyway, 
tive  peeped 


I: 


"Ol 

Mice  a 
"N"o 
out  eai 
feels  hi 
holes  i 
first." 

"  Wh 

or  else  i 

"  The 

Hviiig  ki 

flieni  l)o 

is  very  p 

wijitor  n 

wiiidinill 

Cliildren 
iioso  imd 
wisted,  b 


Do 
Tlie 


an 


'■^',i^''<ins,  sj 


little 


coni 


U'liiter  hel 
llie 


Chii 


)nl 


thr 


slee]) 


-veil 
"iig-h  t| 


in  c^ 


mm 


«  on  tl 


h<l  feel 
f'"'^Ii.r  tail  I 


(iiiil^ 


^'•'S  Jl  H(\ 


THE   WINTER    WOODS 


169 


"  Oh,  yes,  and  live  on  what  they  have  stored  up,  like 
Mice  and  Squirrels." 

"  No,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  the  Woodchuck  lives  with- 
out eating,  and  sleeps  so  soundly  that  he  never  even 
feels  hungry  ;  the  Ground  Squirrels  that  go  into  their 
holes  for  a  time  take  care  to  till  their  cupboards 
tirst." 

'•  Why  don't  the  Woodchucks  starve  before  spring, 
or  else  freeze  ?  " 

"  The  fat  they  have  gained  in  the  summer  by  good 

living  keeps  them  from  doing  either,  and  this  fat  serves 

tliein  both  for  food  and  fire.     Then,  too,  a  Woodchuck 

is  very  particular  how  he  puts  himself  to  bed  for  this 

winter  nap.     He  does  not   spread  himself   out   like  a 

windmill   and    kick    off   the   clothes,   as   some    House 

Cliildren  I  know,  do,  but   curls   himself  up  with   his 

nose  under  his,  paws  so  that  even   his   breath   is   not 

wasted,  but  warms  his  feet  like  a  stove." 

""  Do  any  other  fourfoots  sleep  this  way  ?  " 

"  The  long  Avinter  sleep  ?      Yes,  Bears  do  in   cold 

regions,  sometimes  not  coming  out  until  May.     Their 

little  cousins,  the  Coons,  also  go  in  for  a  while  in  early 

winter  before  there  is  a  good  crust  on  the  snow,  oVso 

[the  Chipmunk,  and  many  others  beside. 

''Even  the  animals  who  live  on  flesh  and  hunt  all 
Itlu'ongh  the  winter  are  very  particular  how  they  go  to 
Isleep  in  cold  weather,  usually  manjiging  to  put  their 
liioses  on  their  legs,  so  that  these  parts  tliat  are  thinnest 
|iiH(l  feel  cold  soonest  shall  have  the  warmth  of  their 
troatli.  The  Fox  <loes  even  more,  he  spreads  his 
(•usliy  (ail  to  cover  liis  nose,  and  as  you  can  imagine 
kikes  a  sort  of  respirator  for  himself,  for  by  breathing 


j 

\ 
I 

i 


160 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


m 


through  his  thick  tail  he  gets  no  icy  air  to  give  him  a 
sore  throat." 

"  Isn't  it  wonderful,"  said  Rap,  as  if  he  could  hardly 
understand  it  all.  "I  know  by  myself,"  he  added, 
"that  you  can  go  longer  without  being  hungry  when 
you  are  asleep  than  Avhen  you're  awake.  Sometimes 
I've  slept  twelve  hours,  but  when  I'm  awake  I  eat 
breakfast,  dinner,  and  tea  all  in  twelve  hours." 

"  The  streams  are  not  frozen  yet,  even  tlie  little  ones,'' 
said  Mr.  Blake  ;  "  it  ought  to  be  a  good  season  for  the 
Skunks,  who  are  great  drinkers.  Does  Nez  do  mucli 
trapping?  Of  course  now  there  can  be  very  little  to 
take  hereabouts." 

"  He  catches  Skunks,  Rabbits,  Minks,  and  a  few  Foxes 
and  Otters,"  said  Olaf.  "  Up  to  tliis  week  he  has  done 
well  on  Coons, — his  place  looks  something  like  a  fm- 
trading  post.  Nez  is  bound  to  catch  something  wherever 
he  camps.  There's  a  Fox  been  eating  up  a  lot  of  fowls 
that  belonged  to  an  old  woman  down  in  the  hollow,  jind 
he  has  to  be  caught,  or  the  poor  old  body  will  starve. 
This  Fox  is  too  cute  to  trap,  so  Nez  planned  to  watch 
for  it  to-niglit.  He  has  a  good  dog  and  thought  you 
might  like  to  go  out,  for  old  times'  sake,  though  a  Fox 
is  small  game  after  Panthers  and  (trizzlies." 

"  Full  moon,  too,  nothing  could  be  better,"  said  tliej 
Doctor,  adding  with  a  Ijoyish  laugli,  "it's  a  duty  to 
kill  a  Fox  that  steals  a  poor  woman's  poultry,  isn't  it,| 
Jack  ?  " 

"  It's  a  poor  sportsman  wlio  ever  lacks  an  excuse  fo 
fair  hunting."     Then  the  men  began  discussing  Foxesi 
so  earnestly  that  Nat  had  to  speak  twice  before  he  \vii>j 
heard. 


"If 

what  J 
"A 

a  few  i 

for  the 

"Po 

mals,  - 

shoot  t] 

grow  01 

Cactus 

hut  Por 


THE    WINTER    WOODS 


161 


him  a 

luuHlly 

added, 

■y  wlien 

nietiiues 

e    I    eat 

le  ones," 
L  for  the 
lo   much 
little  to 


"  If  that  wasn't  a  Woodchuck  trail  by  the  road, 
what  sort  of  a  broad,  low-crawling  beast  made  it  ?  "       : 

"'  A  Porcupine,  most  likely,"'  said  Olaf .  "  There  are 
a  few  straying  about  still,  thougli  it  is  rather  far  south 
for  tliem." 

"  Porcupines  ?  I  thought  they  were  Menagerie  ani- 
mals, —  very  dangerous  ones  who  chase  people  and 
shoot  them  all  full  of  sharp  spikes  like  arrows,  that 
grow  on  their  backs  !  I  hope  they  won't  come  after  us. 
Cactus  prickles  are  awful,  when  they  get  in  your  hands, 
but  Porcupine  spikes  must  be  worse." 

''Xez  has  a  Porcupine  in  a  pen  up  at  his  camp,  so 
you  can  see  it.  They  do  not  shoot  their  quills.  When 
a  Porcupine  is  frightened,  he  humps  his  back  and  draws 
his  head  down  between  his  fore  paws  like  a  Turtle  try- 
ing to  get  into  his  shell.  Then  all  the  quills  on  his 
back  stand  out  like  a  sort  of  shield,  and  if  anything 
tries  to  grab  or  bite  the  Porcupine,  that  thing  will 
surely  get  its  mouth  and  paws  full  of  spikes  that  hold 
on  like  fish-hooks.  He  has  an  vigly  sqmire  sort  of  a 
tail,  too,  all  covered  with  quills,  tliat  he  uses  for  a  club 
when  he  is  angry,  and  a  blow  from  it  drives  the  barbed 
spikes  far  into  the  tlesh  of  his  enemy." 

"Mighty  queer  things,  these  Porcupines,"  said  Mr. 
Hlake.  "  Sort  of  living  pincushions  with  the  pins  put 
in  point  up.  I  meddled  with  one  when  1  was  a  bo}', 
and  I  haven't  forgotten  it  yet,  —  the  pins  went  in  point 
first  and  stuck  there  heads  down  !  " 

"  What  good  are  they,  daddy ;  do  they  have  fur  or 
make  meat,  or  eat  bad  insects,  or  belong  to  a  guild  ?  " 

"Tbey  seem  to  b(^  of  no  particular  use  to  House 
IVoplc,  though  the  Indians  are  fond  (»f  their  meat  and 

M 


X 


\ 


^■- ■"-••'■•"""  "  '  "-•'- 


162 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


h         I 


f 

i| 
I'll 


weave  their  quills  into  belts  and  other  ornaments  and 
use  them  to  trim  tlieir  rohes.  In  fact,  Porcupines, 
tliough  gentle  and  harmless  personally,  are  rather  mis- 
chievous animals  belonging  to  the  (inawers,  and  eatiiio- 
vegetable  food.     In  winter  they  gnaw  the  twigs  and 

bark  of  trees, 
and  as  they  do 
not  sleep  the 
winter     sleep 
they     destroy 
a    great    deal 
of  valual)le 
wood.    Peo[>le 
can   tell   how- 
deep  the  snow- 
lias    been    by 
the      naked 
bands  on  the 
evergreen 
trees      where 
the  Porcui)ine 
has      gnawed 
a  \v  a  y     the 
bark,  for  they 
are  very  hun- 
gry beasts." 
"  How  big  are  they,"  asked  Rap,  "  and  do  they  live  in 
dens  like  Foxes  or  in  the  earth?" 

"They  sometimes  grow  to  be  twice   the  size  of  ai 
Woodchuck,  and  they  look  larger  yet  when  their  quills 
stick  up.      rhey  live  in  dens,  in  the  crevices  between 
rocks  and  in  tree  holes.     If  you  should  look  in  one  of 


Canada  Porcupine. 


these 

that  j 

"If 

would 


THE    WiyTEli    WOODS 


163 


pines, 
:  mis- 
eating 
TS  and 


size  of  a  I 
tUeii-  quills 
ges  between  I 
■k  in  one  oi 


tliese  places,  you  would  find  it  strewn  with  the  quills 
tlnit  had  fallen  out  from  time  to  time." 

"■  If  something  bit  them  so  they  lost  some  quills, 
would  new  quills  grow  in  right  away,  or  would  they 
have  to  wait  for  a  regular  time  ?  " 

"•  They  begin  to  grow  immediately,  but  it  would  take 
tliiee  months  before  the  quills  would  be  ready  to  shed 


agaui. 


"  I  should  think  if  they  ran  through  the  bushes  their 
quills  would  catch  in  everything  and  come  off,  and 
then  any  beast  could  kill  them  !  " 

"  Hut  they  seldom  run.  Did  you  ever  see  a  Porcu- 
pine run,  Olaf  ?  "  asked  j\Ir.  Hlake. 

'■'■  They  run,  sir  ;  but  not  so  fast  that  a  man  may  not 
overtake  them :  they  are  so  slow  and  stupid  that  it  is 
wonderful  any  yet  live.  Still  in  the  north  woods  they 
increase  more  and  more,  while  the  good  Deer  and  use- 
ful fur  beasts  are  seen  less  and  less." 

''Do  you  remember  a  toy  dog  you  once  had,  Nat, 
that  could  be  wound  up  and  would  walk  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  only  he  didn't  walk  well,  and  after  a  min- 
ute or  two  he  couldn't  go  straight,  —  then  he  went 
very  slow  and  stopped." 

"That  is  precisely  the  way  a  Porcupine  moves,  but 
[even  up  in  the  pine  trees  where  he  spends  most  of  his 
Itinie,  and  is  really  quite  an  acrobat  in  his  deliberate 
way,  he  goes  from  brancli  to  branch  in  the  same  slow 
Inianner,  as  nnich  as  to  say  :  '  Have  1  not  a  whole  regi- 
Iment  of  spearmen  on  my  back  to  [)rotect  me  ?  My  time 
Bs  my  own  ! '  So  he  continues  to  crawl  about  chicHy 
at  night,  sometimes  stopping  to  croon  or  sing  to  him- 
self, and  is  really  a  very  unobjcH^tionable  object,  unless 


164 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I 


nil 


you  happen  to  stumble  over  one  in  the  dark  ;  and  people 
who  have  kept  them  in  cages  say  they  have  a  great 
many  mteresting  ways." 

"  I  see  smoke  ;  we  are  nearly  at  camp,"  said  tiie 
Doctor ;  "  and  quite  time,  too,  both  my  feet  are  fast 
asleep.  What  shall  you  do  with  the  horses,  Olaf  ?  It 
is  rather  too  chilly  to  [)asture  them  in  the  snow." 

"•There  is  an  old  barn  here  below,  where  Nez  keeps 
his  cow  and  some  hay ;  I'll  put  them  there  until  I  ttikt- 
you  down  again  to-morrow." 

Soon  they  turned  in  between  the  trees,  the  horses 
breaking  the  path.  Everywhere  about  were  the  foot- 
prints of  little  beasts,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  came 
to  Nez'  clearing.  There  was  no  outside  fire,  but  smoke 
and  sometimes  a  few  red  sparks  came  from  the  stone 
chimney  of  the  log  house. 

Nez  was  busy  at  his  work  in  the  shed,  which  he  had 
wholly  enclosed  with  boughs  and  bark;  the  boys  saw  at 
once  why  Olaf  said  he  had  a  "regular  fur  shop."  'J'he 
place  was  lined  with  various  kinds  of  skins,  drying 
upon  all  sorts  of  stretchers,  and  more  were  stacked 
away  under  the  roof. 

"Want  to  know  I  "  said  Nez,  heartily,  coming  to  meet 
the  party,  followed  by  Stul)ble,  the  setter,  the  tame  Fox, 
who  now  wore  a  collar,  and  the  two  little  boys  who  hail 
been  tohl  tliat  they  must  speak  up  and  be  polite.  'I'licv 
only  suc(H'(m1(m1  fjir  enongli  to  pcej)  and  stiire  while  llicvj 
held  liglit,  ench  to  one  of  tbeir  fiitlier's  h'gs,  as  it'  tlicv 
thought  tlu'ir  giu'sts  (ii'iz/iy  l»e;us  or  Wildcats.  Tlitv 
wore  (jueer  jtenked  lioniennnle  cajis  of  undye<l  Miiskiiiij 
fur,  and  short,  lambskin  jackets  with  the  wool  insidt 
looking  very  much  like  a  [lair  ol"  captive  brownies. 


Nei 
for  tl 
wild  V 
skin  d 
lii-st  cl 
^•"iinne; 
-  St( 
way  to 
realizec 
and  no 
ing  it  I 
Tile 
iiig  in 
room  d 
logs  we: 
stove,  u 
ring  soi 
<lelicion 
*'  Las 
.Gfround 
smoke, 
in  thesel 
Jiotliingl 
around.] 
"  Villi 
'"<>inelt(i 
I'iiuik    tj 
iilca  of 
(lie   edtrj 
<'eii(i-('.  |l 
"  Ves.1 
little  spl 


rilE   WINTER    WOODS 


1G5 


Nez  could  have  easily  bought  woolleu  caps  aud  coats 
for  them  iu  the  Uidj^e  village,  but  he  loved  simple, 
wild  ways  aud  things,  and  understood  the  turning  of  a 
skin  directly  into  a  coat  better  than  the  indirect  way  of 
fiist  changing  it  for  money  and  then  buying  the  needed 
garment. 

"  Step  right  in  by  the  fire,"  said  Nez,  leading  the 
wiiv  to  the  cabin.  Then  for  tiie  first  time  the  boys 
realized  that  they  were  ([uite  cold,  —  the  excitement 
and  novelty  of  their  journey  had  kept  them  from  feel- 
ing it  before. 

Tlie  cabin  was  very  warm,  for  two  fires  were  burn- 
ing in  a  space  that  was  scarcely  more  than  one  large 
room  divided  by  tlie  stone  chimney.  In  one  fireplace 
logs  were  blazing,  in  the  other  stood  a  small  sheet-iron 
stove,  upon  which  Toinette  was  preparing  dinner,  stir- 
ring something  with  a  wooden  spoon  that  yielded  a 
delicious  "  have-some-niore  "  odor. 

''  Last  winter  we  had  a  regular  campfire  on  the 
ground  in  the  middle  and  just  a  roof  draught  for  the 
smoke,  but  we  get  too  much  rain  along  spring  and  fall 
in  these  parts  for  that  sort  of  chimney,  though  there's 
nothing  like  a  fire  where  you  can  sit  all  the  way 
around." 

"  Vill  you  now  eat  sometings,  m'sieurs?"  said 
Toinette,  hospitably,  making  a  gesture  toward  tlu^ 
plank  table,  which  they  then  noticed  was  set  with  an 
idea  of  festivity.  (Jrt)und  pine  hung  in  festoons  abojit 
the  K'i\^{}  and  was  arranged  in  a  sort  of  unit  in  the 
centre,  figured  with  buncdies  and  sprays  of  red  berries. 

*' Ves.  better  feed  now,"  said  Nez,  *'if  you  want  a 
litth^  sport  this  afternoon,  'cause  'long  about  dark  wo 


■■matMMMW 


166 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


M 


must  get  after  that  Fox.     I've  took  a  day  off  and  Toi- 
nette's  brother  here  is  k)okiii'  after  my  traps." 

"Isn't  it  a  holiday  every  day  up  here  in  the  woods?'' 
asked  Nat,  as  they  sat  down  and  Toinette  phiced  before 
each  a  bowl  of  smoking  bean  soup  with  little  squares  of 
fried  bread  bobbing  about  in  it. 

"  I  reckon  not  !  What  made  you  think  tliat,  sonny  ? 
No  holidays  in  winter  for  a  nnui  wlio  tries  to  git  a 
livin'  in  the  woods  now'days.  It's  lindin'  tracks  and 
settin'  traps  and  gittin'  the  right  bait  ;  then  goiu' 
visitin'  the  traps  to  git  yer  property  before  a  Fox  or  u 
Weasel  helps  hisself  to  it,  or  it  spoils  so  the  pelt  is  no 
good.  If  it  snows  hard,  yer  traps  gets  buried  and 
sometimes  froze  in.  Then  there's  the  beasts  to  skin 
and  the  skins  to  cure,  and  the  charcoal  pit  to  mind,  and 
the  woodpile  to  keep  well  scpiared,  and  the  fire  to  kcup 
burnin'.     No,  siree,  winter's  a  busy  time  I  " 

Rabbit  stew  followed  the  soup,  then  a  sort  of  pud- 
ding made  of  wild  apples  and  barberry  jam  sweetened 
with  molasses,  which  the  boys  thought  delicious. 

"  I  cannot  understand  where  you  get  so  many  pelts, 
Nez,"  said  Mr.  Hlake.  "  I  thought  this  part  of  the 
country  was  skinned  out  years  ago." 

"  It  was,  and  there's  nothin'  here  for  folks  who  want 
to  get  tilings  by  tiic  h)t ;  such  kind  di<l  what  ihey  could 
to  kill  off  the  beasts.  Now,  I've  read  the  signs  licir- 
abouts,  and  I  say  to  myself,  'you  nniy  tiike  so  iniiiiy 
(■oons,  and  Minks,  and  Skuidvs,  and  Foxes  every  winter 
and  not  kill  them  out,'  and  when  I  get  jest  that  in;uiy 
I  stop  and  let  'em  have  fair  |day.  I  sliall  stop  on 
Coons  this  wc^ek,  with  a  hundred  good  prlts  to  tlic 
bettcM"  ;   but  I'm   not  doiu!  with   Foxes  yel,  there's  tim 


mail}' 
parts. 

'^ 
this  ; 
the  pt 
scraps, 

He  \ 
low  fu 
face. 


THE    WINTER    WOODS 


101 


Tui- 
Defore 


many    o'  tliem  for  the   health   of   the   fowls    in   these 
parts. 

''I  shonldn't  want  to  kill  a  pretty  little  beast  like 
this  ;  he  seems  quite  like  a  clog,"  said  Nat,  stroking 
the  pet  Fox  who  was  nosing  about  and  begging  for 
si'rai)s. 

lie  was  indeed  a  beauty,  with  his  fluffy,  reddish  yel- 
low fur,  line  dark  brush,  bright  eyes,  and  intelligent 
face.  He  looked  so  innocent,  too,  not  as  if  he  eould 
outwit  the  cleverest  of  House  People,  or  behead  the 
biggest  gander  in  the  tloek  with  one  bite  of  his  little 
wliite  teeth. 

''  1  thought  you  didn't  like  Fox  hunting.  Uncle  Roy, 
and  thought  it  cruel,  and  yet  you  are  going  yourself 
to-night."         '     \ 

"The  Fox  hunting  I  think  cruel  is  not  the  necessary 
and  ({uick  killing  of  a  mischievous  animal,  but  the  habit 
of  koe[)ing  Foxes  in  Vhat  you  might  call  a  tame  state, 
encouraging  them  to  breed  on  your  ground,  and  then 
turnnig  out  and  chasing  them  with  dogs  trained  for 
the  purpose,  and  when  the  poor  Fox  has  run  his  best 
and  is  spent  (the  longer  he  is  kept  going  the  better  the 
sportsmen  like  it),  the  dogs  are  allowed  to  tear  him  to 
pieces. 

"The  fashion  of  cliasing  any  four-footed  animal  with 
(l(»<,'s  seems  to  me  no  Hjtort.  Teaching  (me  fourfoot  to 
tear  another  to  Itits  is  barl)arous,  according  to  my  way 
of  tliinking.  I'iVi-n  hunting  tiic  wild  I'^ox  witii  dogs 
sccnis  a  waste  of  time,  since,  if  we  really  wisii  to  destroy 
the  heast,  there  ai'e  (|uirkcr  ways  of  doing  it  without 
putting  dogs  to  the  jtain  of  such  tiresome  rnns,  or  tiie 
i'tix  (hi'ongii  an  agony  of  fear,  wiiich,  to  such  an  intel- 


1 


168 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


ligent  aninijil,  is  worse  tliaii  even  the  lingering  death 
of  being  torn  to  bits." 

"  But  why  does  any  one  like  to  do  so  ?  "  asked  Uap. 

"  The  excuse  given  for  it  in  England  is  that  it  is  ;in 
historic  sport,  Ji  settled  custom,  that  it  makes  use  for  a 
line  race  of  horses, — hunters  as  they  are  called, — and  the 
exercise  makes  a  strong  race  of  people.  We  have  an 
unfortunate  liabit  of  importing  customs  without  sulli- 
cient  reason.  It  was  this  spirit  of  borrowing  that  gave 
us  the  Knglisli  Sparrow." 

"  Per]iai)s  they  will  sto[)  it  now  that  there  are  siicli 
fine  bicycles  to  exercise  with.  Don't  you  think  bicycles 
would  be  nice  things  to  make  Dodo  and  me  strong  and 
tender-hearted  ?  "  said  Nat,  so  innocently  that  he  was 
very  much  surprised  when  his  father  asked  if  lie 
thought  his  stocking  would  hold  anything  as  large, 
and  what  make  he  preferred. 

"I  wasn't  fishing  for  one,"  he  liastened  to  explain. 
"  only  thinking  how  good  it  would  he  for  me,"  at  which 
his  father  and  uncle  burst  out  laughing. 

^^  T*  ^n  ^R  ^^ 

Presently  it  was  agreed  that  Rap  should  stay  at  home 
with  the  little  boys  and  Olaf,  who  was  to  finish  a  sort 
of  toboggan,  made  from  a  long  wide  l)oar(l  which  lie 
had  steamed  and  rolled  up  in  front  for  a  fender  ami 
fastened  with  hide  thongs.  It  yet  remained  to  be  orna- 
nuinlcd  liy  a  picture  of  Olaf's  i)ainting. 

Mr.  JMakc  was  interested  in  trying  on  a  pair  of  snow- 
shoes,  that  Ne/,  had  made  partly  for  old  times'  sake,  ami 
partly  in  case  the  snow  should  be  so  deep  dnrinLf  tin 
winter  that  lie  might  need  them  in  visiting  his  traps. 

The  Doctor  anil  Nez  prepared  to  give  Nat   his  lir> 


i  :  '    if 


M 


THE   WINTER    WOODS 


169 


taste  of  Kabbit  hIi noting,  aiul  soon  ^  "uese  three,  accom- 
panied by  Stubble,  wlio  was  an  all-round  hunting  dog, 
started  down  hill,  Nat  holding  the  little  shot-gun  in 
hands  that  trembled  with  excitement,  being  very  care- 
ful that  it  was  not  pointing  at  any  one,  even  though 
it  was  not  yet  loaded. 

The  afternoon  wore  away.  The  toboggan  was  decked 
with  a  i)icture  of  a  large  owl,  which  the  youngest  boy, 
Dominique,  insisted  should  have  a  red  ribbon  painted 
al)iiut  its  neck,  though  his  brother  Phonse  said  owls 
never  wore  such  things. 

Once  in  a  while  they  heard  a  shot,  but  it  was  very 
still  otherwise,  with  no  signs  of  animal  life  save  the 
pranks  of  a  pair  of  half-tame  Gray  Squirrels  who  came 
and  went  in  their  search  for  hidden  food.  The  moon 
shone  silver  white  before  the  sun  had  set,  and  the  two 
oxclianged  greetings  while  they  struggled  with  some 
clouds  that  promised  more  snow  or  possibly  wind  and 
rain.  Presently  by  this  mixed  light  they  saw  Nat  com- 
ing up  the  slope  empty  handed  and  hurrying  ahead  of 
the  others. 

''Didn't  you  get  anything?"  called  Rap.  "Didn't 
you  shoot  a  Rabbit?     Whore  is  your  gun  ?  " 

"No,  I  didn't;  but  I  nearly  got  one.  It  didn't  see 
us  a  bit  and  was  sitting  up  nibliling  and  I  ainunl  as  nice 
as  couhl  be,  —  just  as  Uncle  Roy  told  me,  with  tlie  gun 
a<jfainsl  my  shoulder  and  everything  (juite  right,  —  when 
the  Halibil  turntMl  round  and  stai'etl  at  luc,  and  some- 
how it  was  so  cunning  iind  conifiu'table  and  seenu'd  to 
trust  me,  that  I  didn't  like  to  kill  it.  Wiiih-  I  was 
thiukiiig,  it  gave  a  couple  of  h'iips  and  was  gone  I 
Thcu   I   felt  dreadfully   foolish 


t  *« 


170 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I 


mm  . 


"  You  need  not  feel  foolish,"  said  his  father.  "^  I 
would  much  rather  have  you  pity  the  Rabbit  than  baiifr 
away  recklessly,  with  '  blood  in  your  eyes,'  as  the  say- 
ing goes.  If  you  sometimes  put  yourself  in  the  place 
of  the  game  you  hunt,  you  will  never  become  a  '  Hunt- 
ing Wolf/  But  what  is  that  animal  Nez  is  bringing?  — 
it  looks  like  a  Fox,  —  and  where  is  your  gun?" 

Nat  hesitated  and  stammered  :  "  It  is  a  Fox,  the  bud 
Fox  that  ate  the  old  woman's  chickens,  —  the  one  that 
you  were  going  to  hunt  to-night.  I  shot  him,  but  it 
was  an  accident,  and  the  gun  bumped  me  dreadfully, 
and  uncle  is  angry  and  took  it  away." 

Then  Dr.  Hunter  and  Nez  came  up,  the  latter 
carrying  an  unusually  large  Fox  over  his  shoulder, 
which  he  laid  down  on  the  snow,  saying,  with  an  air  of 
satisfaction,  — 

"Thar,  he'll  give  no  more  trouble  with  his  tricks, 
though  we  are  done  out  of  a  hunt,  unless  we  go  for 
Coons.  Look  at  him,  old  and  gray,  trap  marks  on  all 
four  legs,  and  three  toes  off  one  foot;  no  wonder  we 
couldn't  snare  him." 

"  Nat  says  that  he  shot  him  and  that  you  are  vexed. 
How  did  it  hapi)en  ?  "  asked  ^Nlr.  Blake  of  the  Doctor, 
while  Olaf  drew  near,  eying  the  Fox  eagerly. 

*'  Let  Nat  tell  his  own  story,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  It  happened  this  way,"  began  Nat.  "  I  was  getting,' 
tinul  and  i^oid.  Stid)blc  didn't  start  many  liabbits,  so 
uiude  said  lor  me  to  wait  a  little  while  by  a  bunch  of 
hemlocks  that  ke[>t  tli(^  wind  olT,  while  he  and  Nlv, 
would  go  around  thi;  hill,  and  then  if  they  found  iid 
better  luck  we  would  go  home.     Then  —  " 

"  Yes,  but  what  (dse  did  I  tell  you?" 


THE   WINTER    WOODS 


171 


.      ^   I 

bang 
e  say- 
I  place 
liuut- 
iig?- 

iie  bad 
le  tliat 
,  but  it 
idfully, 


"  You  made  me  take  both  shells  out  of  the  gun,  and 
told  me  to  put  them  in  my  poeket,  and  — leave  — them — 
there  — until  — you -came  — back,"  said  Nat,  hesitating 
and  looking  very  much  as  if  he  wanted  to  cry,  which 
however  was  something  he  never  did. 

"  Please  don't  make  me  tell  any  more,"  he  begged, 
but  tlie  Doctor  motioned  for  him  to  go  on. 

'•Then  —  then  I  waited  and  it  seemed  very  hmg,  and 
I  thought  I  would  practise  putting  the  shells  into  the 
o-iiii  and  taking  them  out,  to  amuse  myself.  One  time, 
when  I  liad  i)ut  them  in  1  looked  up,  and  beyond  the 
hemlocks,  only  a  little  bit  away,  I  saw  something  come 
out  !)etween  the  ground  and  some  rocks.  I  couldn't 
tell  exactly  what  sort  of  an  animal  it  was,  but  I  guessed 
it  was  a  Rabbit,  and  I  didn't  want  to  wait  until  it 
looked  at  me,  so  I  grabbed  the  gun  and  shot  it  off,  both 
barrels,  very  quick,  and  the  gun  knocked  me  over." 
Here  Nat  stopi)ed  and  drew  a  long  breath,  as  if  he 
wanted  to  make  sure  lie  could  breathe  again. 

*'  Xez  and  uncle  came  running  back  and  thought  I 
was  hurt,  and  that  some  one  had  shot  me,  because  1  fell 
()V(!r  in  tiie  snow.  Then  they  found  the  Fox  not  far 
from  his  den,  and  lie  was  mostly  dead." 
"Why  did  the  gun  knock  you  over?"  asked  Rap. 
"  Vou  see  I  was  in  such  a  hurry  I  couldn't  think,  and 
put  the  gun  against  the  front  of  me  where  I  breathe, 
instead  of  against  my  sluudder  I  " 

"  Oh  I  hoi"  said  Mr.  Rlake,  "I  begin  to  see  why 
your  uncle  was  vexed.  Rut  why  didn't  the  Vox  see  or 
snu'll  you,  I  wonder?  The  idcii,  of  an  old  timer  like 
that  escaping  traps  for  a  do/en  years  only  to  full  a  vic- 
tim ol'  a  small  hoy's  mistake." 


172 


FOUR  FOOTED  AMERICANS 


ii-' 


"  The  Fox  was  windward  of  Nat,  who,  as  he  sa}  s, 
must  have  shot  in  a  great  hurry  !  " 

"  It  was  fine  !  "  shouted  Rap.  "  Only  think,  Nattie, 
you've  shot  a  very  wicked  Fox,  and  you  can  have  the 
skin  to  make  a  rug  for  your  motlier,  and  perhaps  she 
will  hang  it  in  Camp  Saturday  for  a  trophy  !  Please, 
why  was  it  wrong.  Dr.  Hunter?" 

"  For  this  reason.  Rap.  I  told  Nat  not  to  load  liis 
gun  ;  he  disobeyed.  He  shot  at  something  without  be- 
ing sure  what  it  was  ;  it  happened  to  be  a  Fox,  but  it 
might  have  been  a  dog,  or  a  calf,  or  a  man  crawling  in 
the  brush  Every  year  dreadful  accidents  happen  and 
people  are  killed  and  maimed  for  life  because  sportsmen 
become  excited  and  mistake  a  man  for  a  Deer,  a  IJeiu-, 
or  a  Fox,  and  all  the  excuse  thry  have  is  that  it  was  a 
'mistake  '  People  who  can  make  such  mistakes  must 
not  handle  guns." 

The  boys  looked  so  very  sad  that  Mr.  IJlake  said, 
''  I  think  Nat  has  learned  his  lesson  early  and  once  for 
all  ,-  fortunately,  l)y  accident  his  accident  wasn't  an 
accident  after  all.  Did  you  say  your  feet  are  cold .' 
I  think  we  had  better  all  go  into  the  cabin." 

"They  were  very  cold  a  while  ago,  daddy,  for  my 
leggins  leaked  a  little  and  the  snow  got  in,  but  now 
they  feel  better,  or  rather  I  don't  feel  as  if  I  had  aiiv 
feet.  1  think  it  would  be  nice  to  put  them  by  tlie 
fire." 

"  Whjit !  no  feeling  in  them  ?"  exclaimed  the  Doctor, 
"  Nez,  bring  me  a  pan  of  snow  into  the  cabin,  and  off 
with  your  leggins,  my  boy.  No,  don't  go  near  the  Inc. 
if  you  do  your  feet  will  sw(dl  and  you  will  have  chil- 
blains every  winter  for — ^I  don't  know  how  long." 


THE   ]VINTER    WOODS 


173 


le  says, 

Nattie, 
ave  the 
,aps  slie 

Please, 

load  Ills 
hout  be- 
X,  V)ut  it 
Avling'  in 
[)pen  and 
poi'tsineii 
1-,  a  liear, 
t  it  was  ii 
ikes  must 

lake  said 
once  for 
,vasu't  an 
are  cold' 


y 


,  for  my 
but  now 
1  had  any 
m  by  the 


le  Doctor. 

in,  antl  oft 

hvr  tlic  lire. 

liavc  cliil- 

long." 


"  Oil,  uncle  !  tliat  will  make  my  feet  freeze  hard  !  " 
died  Nat,  as  the  Doctor  began  to  rub  them  vigorously 
witli  handfuls  of  snow. 

"No,  it  won't,''  said  Rap,  consolingly,  "snow  draws 
tjie  cold  out ;  the  miller  used  often  to  rub  my  cheeks  and 
ems  with  snow  when  I  went  out  witii  him  in  winter." 

In  a  few  minutes  Nat  said  the  feeling  was  coming 
hack,  only  that  it  tickled  in  spots,  so  his  uncle  rolled 
him  in  a  blanket  and  dropped  him  into  the  bunk  filled 
with  hemlock  boughs  that  was  to  be  his  bed  later  on. 
There  he  lay  comfortably  watching  the  people  come 
to  and  fro,  and  the  preparations  for  supper.  He  was 
wondering  if  his  uncle  would  ever  let  him  have  the 
oiin  again,  whether  the  men  would  go  Coon  hunting 
that  evening,  or  stay  at  home  and  tell  stories,  and  then 
he  fell  asleep. 

When  he  awoke  he  did  not  know  where  he  was  at 
first ;  then  he  saw  the  supper  table  spread  by  the  tire- 
light,  and  a  man,  Toinette's  brother,  by  the  open  door, 
who  called  to  Nez  :  "  Returned  am  I  in  the  good  time  ; 
there  was  much  fur  in  the  traps,  l)ut  the  snow  comes, 
dat  vat  you  (;all  blinds,  —  ze  squall!"  He  heard  the 
Doctor  say  :  "•  We  must  make  the  best  of  it  ;  no  Coons 
t(i-iiight.  It  is  a  good  chance  for  the  boys  to  hear  about 
the  little  fur  beasts  and  sec;  a  few  of  them."  Then 
Nat  remembered  where  he  was  and  scrand^led  up  for 
sii|»[)('r. 


'      !l 

'    !! 
I    ii 


XIII 


NEZ   LONG'S   MENAGEKIE       > 


(( 


^KINNING  so  many  animals  about 
the  cami)  makes  a  great  many 
kinds  of  queer  smells,"  \vliis- 
[)ere(l  Nat  to  Rap,  as  tliey  sat 
down  to  their  supper  of  oiit- 
meal  porridge  and  cott'ee,  wliile 
Toinette  was  busy  frying 
something  in  a  deep  pan,  which 
needed  a  great  deal  of  turning. 
"The  smell  belongs  mostly  to 
Skunks,  for  1  noticed  that  Toinette's  brother  had  four 
or  five  among  the  other  fur  beasts  he  took  over  to  what 
Nez  calls  his  '  iMenagerie,'  in  the  shed,  and  all  those 
other  animals  have  smells  of  their  own  beside.  I  won- 
der wiiat  Toinette  is  cooking?  it  looks  something  like 
chicken,  but  it  isn't  quite  the  right  shape." 

"  Maybe  it  is  frogs'  legs  ;  we  used  to  have  them  often 
when  we  lived  in  the  city." 

Nez  soon  settled  tiie  (juestion  by  calling,  "  Whoever 
wants  s(piirrel-leg  fry,  hand  up  his  dish  and  get  it 
riglit  from  the  pan,"  an  invitation  that  was  acce[)te(l  iit 
once. 

"What  becomes  of  the  rest  of  the  Scjuirrel?"  askeil 
\i\\\),  "  is  it  any  good  ?  " 

174 


NEZ  LONG  S  MENAGERIE 


175 


it   miiny 

;'    whis- 

they  Silt 

L-    ot    Oivt- 

I'ee,  while 

,y    frying 

lan,  wliicli 

Iturning. 

mostly  to 

bad  four 

V  to  wluit 

all  those 

.      I  won- 

thing  like 

Ihem  often 

I'  Wboi'vev 
ind  g^'t  it 
Icoeptetl  at 

h'>"  aslu'tl 


''  All,  oui !  it  is,  iiion  enfant,  for  potage,  —  ze  stew 
you  call  liini,"  said  Toinette,  putting  a  fresh  supply  of 
legs  into  the  pan. 

"  Delicious  !  "  said  the  Doctor.  "I  have  eaten  Squir- 
rel before,  but  it  never  tasted  like  this." 

"Spiled  in  the  cookin',"  said  Nez  ;  "easiest  beast 
there  is  to  spile,  but,"  giving  a  glance  full  of  pride  at 
Toinette,  "  the  woman  knows  jest  how  long  to  stew  'em 
fust,  jest  how  long  to  fry,  and  jest  how  to  season,  and 
that's  the  whole  sense  of  cookin',  1  reck'n.  Why,  along 
four  years  ago  up  in  Canada  we  was  pushed  for  meat 
onct,  and  Toinette  she  cooked  up  a  fat  young  Porkipine 
so  you  couldn't  ha"  told   it   from  young  lamb,  —  yes. 


su'ee 


f  " 


"Didn't  you  have  an  awful  time  picking  the  quills 
out?  They  must  be  as  thick  as  feathers  on  a  chicken," 
siiid  Nat. 

"They  only  grow  quills  on  their  backs,"  replied  Nez, 
["and  you  can  take  the  whole  skin  off  to  onct  without 
Iprickiu'  a  linger,  if  you  slit  it  and  begin  underneath." 

"  Wasn't  it  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  take  off'  all  the 

Iskins  of  the  little  fur  beasts  tliat  are  out  in  your  slied  ? 

|l)oflo  and  I  skinned  two  moles  a  while  ago  to  make  a 

luiff  for  her  doll,  but  the  skins  tore  even  after  we  had 

I'uhbed  alum  on  them  and  waited  two  weeks  for  them 

t  dry.     Mole  skins  don't  smell  very  good  either,  but 

lot  so  bad  as  Skunks." 

"It's  easy  enough  to  skin  fur  beasts  if  you  don't 
[\ait  too  long,  Imt  some  things  hereabouts,  Scjuirrels  for 
pistaiue,  that  have  nice-lookin'  fur,  are  of  no  account, 
icoaiise  their  skins  are  weak  like  your  mole's.  I'll  bring 
\\  w  few  of  to-day's  batch  so  you  can  look  at  'em." 


i^ 


it 


176 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


^9 


"Uncle  Roy,"  asked  Nat,  as  soon  as  Nez  went  out, 
"  wliy  do  the  fourfoots  smell  so  queerly,  when  birds  do 
not  ?  " 

"  Some  birds  do,"  said  Rap.  "  Don't  you  remember 
the  marsh  where  the  Herons  live  ?  " 

"  The  fourfoots  all  have  odors  that  vary  with  eucli 
species.  Heart  of  Nature  has  a  use  for  them  like  every- 
thing else  in  his  garden.  Birds  depend  upon  sight  iind 
do  not  need  the  power  of  scent  to  guide  them  like  tlie 
fourfoots.  These,  though  they  all  have  voices  and  can 
make  sounds  of  pleasure  or  of  warning,  also  need  a  silent 
language  by  which  to  speak  to  one  another,  in  order 
that  tliey  may  leave  messages  where  absent  friends  can 
find  them  in  wood  and  runways,  as  House  People  use 
written  words.  It  is  for  this  purpose  that  the  power 
of  secreting  these  odors  has  been  given  the  fourfoots. 

"  This  arrangement  has  given  these  animals  very  keen 
noses,  upon  which  they  depend  far  more  than  on  their 
eyes  for  recognizing  either  friends  or  enemies.  It  is 
this  power  that  enables  every  animal  to  tell  whether  tlie 
beast  who  has  gone  over  a  trail  before  him  is  a  friend 
or  a  foe,  and  it  also  serves  as  a  weapon  of  defence,  for 
some  of  the  little  Mammals  taste  so  disagreeably  that  j 
tlieir  cannibal  brothers  do  not  care  to  eat  them.  Yoiii 
know  tliat  the  Skunk  is  as  well  able  to  protect  himsellj 
from  his  big  brothers  by  his  odor  as  if  he  had  the  claw.< 
and  paws  of  a  Grizzly  Bear." 

"Talkin'  uv  Skunks,  here's  a  fine  one,"  said  Nez,| 
coming  in  with  half  a  dozen  little  animals  in  his  iirmsj 
and  holding  the  Skunk  by  the  tail  at  arm's  length. 

"  What  are  those  others  ?  "  asked  Rap,  recogiuziiig| 
some  unfamiliar  animals  in  the  heap. 


[it  out, 
inls  do 

[iieiiiber 

X\\  e-.icli 
e  every- 
ight  iiiid 
like  llie 

and  can 
d  a  silent 

in  order 
iends  can 
eople  vise 
tlie  power 
luvfoots. 

very  keen 
1  on  tlieir 
ies.     It  IS 

hetlier  tlie 
Is  a  friend 

ef ence,  for 
leealdy  that  1 

lem.    Voiil 

ect  Uimsell 

d  tlie  claws 

said  ^^A 
n  his  lU'iiis.] 
length, 
recognizii^?! 


■ 

CoMMo:^  Skukk. 


fi 


r 


I 


loilL''  i 


illl 


OV(j 

•  Tl 


uiidci- 
l(tr,  '• 


will 


1   Ml 


to  proj 
the  S(. 
Water, 
rare  StJ 


NEZ  long's  MKNAaEUlt: 


177 


"There's  ii  Mink,  ti  Weasel,  and,  as  liiek  turns,  an 
Otter.  We  don't  get  many  of  them  here,  though  they 
]()ve  about  so  I'm  never  surprised  to  see  a  few.  I've 
only  found  one  of  their  eoasts  bv  the  upper  pond." 

"Coasts  !  what  do  you  mean?"  asked  \i,\\). 

"  Why,  Otters  are  as  fond  of  sliding  down  hill  as  you 
are,  and  mud  makes  as  good  a  coast  for  them  as  snow. 
No,  I'm  not  jokin',  am  1,  Doctor  ?" 

"  What  Nez  says  i.s  perfectly  true.  Let  me  show 
that  Otter  to  the  boys  and  1  will  explain." 

Nez  picked  up  an  aninuxl  that  must  have  weighed 
twenty  pounds,  with  handsome  rich,  shaded  brown  fur, 
and  laid  it  on  the  floor  by  the  Doctor.  It  was  about 
two  feet  and  a  half  long  from  its  blunt  nose  to  the  root 
of  its  stout  tapering  tail.  Its  head  was  catlike,  with 
small  round  ears  and  bristly  mustaches,  its  legs  were 
siioit  and  ended  in  furry,  webbed  feet  with  stout 
claws. 

"  What  lovely  soft  under-fur,"  said  Rap,  parting  the 
limg  glossy  outer  hairs  gently  with  one  hand,  "  and  it's 
all  over  him,  too,  even  on  his  tail." 

"•This  Otter  has  the  most  desirable,  also  the  finest, 
uiider-fur  of  almost  any  of  our  fourfoots,"  said  the  Doc- 
tor, "  and  like  the  Heaver  and  Muskrat  he  s[»ends  a 
^ncat  deal  of  his  time  in  and  about  the  water." 

"Does  living  near  the  water  havi^  anything  to  do 
with  making  his  under-fur  so  thick?"  asked  \{\\\). 

"Very  probably  it  does,  the  soft  close  fur  being  made 
1)1  indtect  the  body  from  beconung  water  soaked  ;  for 
tlic  Seal,  wln»  spends  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  tht; 
water,  has  the  same  wonderful,  close  under-coat,  and  the 
rare  Sea  Otter  also." 


i 


178 


FO Uli- FOOTED  A MERKJA N S 


"  Where  do  these  Otters  live,  wh.at  kind  of  nests  do 
they  make,  and  do  they  belong  to  a  guikl?"  asked  Nat. 

"  Tiiey  haunt  wooded  places  near  water  ;  sometimes 
a  mother  Otter  makes  a  home  for  her  two  or  three 
young  in  a  hollow  stump,  or  else  in  a  hole  under  a  bank, 
scraping  a  few  leaves  together  as  a  bed.  Jt  is  always 
within  easy  distance  of  the  water,  where  the  fish,  upon 
which  tliey  feed,  can  be  caught,  for  they  belong  to  the 
guild  of  Flesh  Eaters  and  like  variety  in  their  animal 
food,  sometimes  helping  themselves  to  chickens  and 
small  game.  They  also  have  liiding-places  in  river 
banks  entered  by  a  liole  under  the  water. 

"Otters  when  Jiot  busy  hunting  food  are  very  play- 
ful animals,  and  one  of  their  ciiief  games  is  what  Nez 
calls  'coasting.'  In  sunnner  they  clioose  a  smooth 
bank  stretching  toward  the  water  and  deliberately  lie 


S 


UXlKlt  AND  FlHHKH. 


NEZ  LONG'S  MENAGERIE 


179 


3sts  do 
id  Nat. 
letiuu's 
r  tliree 
a  bank, 
always 
li,  upon 
cr  to  the 
■  animal 
ens   and 
ill  river 


on  their  stonuiclis,  spread  out  their  liind  legs,  give  a 
pusli  and  slide  down  one  after  another,  plunging  into 
the  water  at  tiie  end,  only  to  land  again  at  a  suita- 
hk'  spot,  clind)  up  hill  and  slide  once  more.  You  can 
imagine  that  a  slippery  nuul-eovered  coast  is  soon 
fdiined,  which  is  used  hy  the  Otter  community.  When 
tilt!  snow  is  deep,  they  make  similar  coasts  through  it 
(low  n  toward  their  feeding  places,  and  they  nniy  then 
1k!  easily  tracked  when  on  their  excursions  about 
home. 

'•Then  they  don't  sleep  the  winter  sleep?"  said  Rap. 
"  ilow  do  they  catch  fish  when  the  rivers  freeze?" 

"They  are  on  the  watch  all  winter,  like  the  other 
members  of  the  fannly  of  little  fur  bearers,  or  Musfeluhv, 
as  the  Wise  Men  call  them.  They  keep  their  lishing 
holes  open  through  the  ice,  and  these  holes,  as  well  as 
their  slides,  guide  people  in  trapping  them.  One  of 
the  most  likely  places  to  set  a  trap  is  in  a  slideway,  or 
fiistened  securely  to  a  pole  under  the  Otter's  favorite 
lishing-hole. 

''  Why  do  they  catch  them  with  traps,  when  Nez 
savs  it  is  so  much  trouble  to  bait  them?  Why  isn't  it 
easici-  to  shoot  them?"  asked  Nat. 

"in  th(!  first  place  all  these  fur  lourfoots  prowl  al)out 
mostly  after  dark,  and  are  very  wild  and  so  keen  cd' 
scent  that  it  is  dillicult  to  get  near  them,  while  at  best 
11  liiMiter  would  have  lo  sho(»t  them  one  by  one,  and 
tliey  ndght  sink  luidcr  the  ice  and  be  lost.  If  he  uses 
traps,  he  can  set  a  dozen  (U-  more  on  a  single  aft('rno«>n 
iuhI  h'ave  them  to  do  tiieir  own  wttrk  in  the  nigiit. 
Tiicrt!  is  allot iier  reason,  t«>o,  wdiy  it  is  not  best  to  shoot 
them.     Can  either  of  you  guess  it?" 


180 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Rap  answered  eagerly,  "  I  tliiuk  I  know.  It's  be- 
cause the  shot  might  make  a  great  many  holes  in  the 
skin  and  spoil  it." 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  reason.  Now  please  show  us  tlie 
Skunk,  Nez,  and  then  he  can  go  out  in  the  shed  and 
join  his  fellows ;  his  room  will  be  much  better  than  liis 
company." 

"  I  think  the  smell  of  it  is  making  my  head  ache," 
said  Nat. 

*'  We  will  hurry,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  for  tliis  Connnoii 
Skunk  is  a  very  disagreeable  animal  in  many  ways. 
You  see,  he  is  a  full  foot  sliorter  than  the  Otter,  and 
though  lie  has  a  tail  as  plumy  as  a  fountain,  gh>s.sy 
black  fur  with  white  head  and  back  bands,  his  face 
is  sly  and  narrow,  wearing  a  snappish  look,  and  people 
say  that  a  bite  from  his  pointed  teetli  may  carry  hycho- 
phobia  witii  it. 

"  lie  is  a  ))()ld  animal,  too,  and  whether  he  goes  to  tlie 
chicken  liouse  to  choose  his  supper,  or  prowls  antiiiid 
the  refuse  i)ails  outside  some  camp,  he  is  not  iiudiiied 
to  hurry.  Full  well  he  knows  the  power  of  the  ])liiid- 
ing,  scalding  li([uid  which  is  his  weai)on,  and  animals, 
that  could  tear  him  to  bits  without  the  least  trouble, 
pretend  not  to  see  him  and  keei)  their  distance.  Sn 
fearless  are  Skunks  that  a  pair  oflen  take  up  llicir 
abode  under  a  barn  or  even  a  piazza,  and  the  little 
Skunks  play  about  and  are  sometimes  [»etted  as  baiiii- 
less  kittens  by  (he  children,  until  ouv  day  the  illusion 
is  suddenly  broken." 

''I  should  think  it  would  be  ludter  if  llu^y  were  nil 
kille(l  out,"  said  Kap. 

"  I{euieml>er  their  fur,  and  thai  ihev  earn  their  living' 


It's  l)e- 
is  in  the 

w  us  tlic 

ilied  luid 

than  Ills 

1(1  aclio," 

Common 
,uy  ways. 
)tter.  and 
in,  <;'l()ssy 
i,  his  face 
,11(1  iR'<>i)k' 
rry  hydio- 

1 
oes  to  the 
'Is  arouml 
t  iiu'lini'd 
the-  i)Hn(l- 
1  juumiils, 
it   trouhU'. 
aiu'c.      So 
up   their 
th(5  littU' 
as  lianii- 
lu>  illusidii 


I.riTI-K  STUIl'Kl)  8kI  NK. 


Iv  were  ii 


11 


M'\r 


liviiv. 


iiii 


NEZ  long's  MENAGElilE 


181 


l)y  eating  mice  and  nnisance  animals,  as  well  as  grass- 
lioj)j)ei'8  and  other  insects."  -' 

'*]  never  heard  of  Skunk  fur  when  I  lived  in  the 
city,"  said  Nat. 

*'  No,  but  you  have  heard  of  Alaska  Sable,  which  is 
tlic  name  it  uses  when  it  puts  away  its  evil  odor  and 
g(H!s  in  polite  society." 

''•  Vou  called  this  one  the  Common  Skunk.  Are  there 
any  uncommon  ones?"  asked  Rap. 

"  'I'here  are  quite  a  num])er  of  species,  but  they  are 
all  common  somewhere.  The  oddest  of  all  is  the  Little 
Striped  Skunk  who  lives  in  the  more  southern  parts  of 
tlie  (!ountry,  from  Florida  across  to  the  Plains.  He  is  a 
wt'iisel-shaped  little  piece  of  impudence,  with  a  white 
spot  on  his  forehead,  all  the  rest  of  his  body  and  tail 
phiiiie  being  so  striped  that  you  can  never  say  if  he  is 
black  and  white  or  white  and  black,  or  both  ;  he  might 
be  a  toy  aninuil  made  of  strips  of  black  and  white  flan- 
nel. IMack  and  white  is  a  rare  combination  for  the  coat 
of  ii  t'ourfoot.  None  of  our  fourfoots  are  bright-colored, 
and  there  are  very  few  such  in  any  country.  I'sually 
the  color  of  an  animal  is  arranged  to  l)lend  with  his 
snnonndings  and  protect  him  from  his  enemies.  Some- 
tinl(^s,  however.  Nature  wishes  to  give  an  animal  a  strik- 
iiijjf  coat  tliat  will  be  seen  by  others  and  warn  them  to 
ki'c|.  away  from  him,  and  the  Skunks  wear  coals  of  this 
kind.  Tiiey  prowl  about  cliiefly  at  dusk  or  after  dark. 
Have  you  ever  noticed  how  clearly  anytiiing  white, 
li()\v(n'cr  small,  sliows  at  night?" 

"Oh,  yes,  I  have  often,"  said  Kap.  "  In  s])iing  when 
all  the  snow  has  gone,  except  little  l)its  under  tiu!  fences, 
you  can  see  it  ever  so  fur  away,  anil  sometimes  when 


I 
I  ■ 


182 


FOUli-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


tlie  fine  luiiulkerdiiefs  iiiother  washes  blow  away  down 
the  fiehl,  I  eaii  find  them  in  the  darkest  night." 

"  Tiien  you  (^an  understand  tliat  tlie  Skunk,  wlio  is 
sufliciently  protected  by  his  evil  odor,  may  wear  tliis 
striped  flag  to  warn  other  animals  not  to  come  upon 
him  too  suddenly.  Here,  Nez,  kindly  take  this  fur- 
covered  sachet  away  ;  the  boys  will  not  forget  how  he 
looks,  I'm  sure." 

"  Skunks  are  full  of  play  and  tricks,  if  they  do  smell 
a  bit  rank,"  said  Nez,  as  he  returned,  followed  by  Air. 
Blake.  "  I've  kei)t  young  uns  round  camps  where  I've 
been,  and  they're  good  eatin',  too,  if  they  are  killed  out- 
right and  skinned,  —  no,  you  needn't  whistle,  Mr.  IJlake. 
I've  often  broiled  'em  like  tender  s[)ring  cliickens.  They 
are  stuj)i(l,  too,  and  if  you  put  a  trap  in  the  runway 
from  tlieir  holes  to  the  water,  they'll  be  sure  to  get  into 
it,  and  seein'  one  caught  doesn't  prevent  his  neiglibor 
from  walkin'  straight  over  liim  into  another  trap." 

"Do  they  stay  out  all  winter  like  the  Otters?"  asked 
Nat. 

"  That  dejH'iids  on  the  place  ai)d  the  weather.  About 
here  they  kee[)  lively  right  along,  but  further  nortli 
they  may  den  up  for  a  bit  the  coldest  part  of  the  .sen- 
son,  lint  take  these  other  two,  the  Weasel  and  Mink, 
they  are  lively  most  of  the  time." 

"What  an  ugly-looking  little  beast  a  Weasel  is." 
said  Nat,  taking  the  slender  animal,  which  was  about  a 
foot  long,  in  his  hand.  "  Hod  caught  ever  .so  many 
around  the  chicken  hou.se  last  summei-,  but  they  weiv 
brown  and  not  a  sort  of  dirty  white  like  this  one,  aiiil 
it  has  a  l>luck  tip  to  its  tail.  Do  they  moult  out  in 
autunni,  Nez  ?  " 


NEZ   long's  menagerie 


183 


I    .     !    i      ) 


"  T  reckon  they  do,  for  tliey  get  wliitisli  all  the  same 
as  tlit3  Northern  Hare,  and  when  they  are  real  white 
folks  calls  'em  Ermines.  When  they  c(mie  from  far 
north  conntries,  where  it  is  cold  enougii  to  make  them 
a  in^ood  clear  white,  they  are  worth  a  lot  of  money  for 
their  fur.  Hut  down  here  they're  no  good.  This  one 
strayed  into  a  trap  I  set  for  Mink  ;  it's  one  of  their 
bothersome  tricks  to  push  themselves  into  the  place  of 


Wkaski.  or  Ekmink  in  Wintkr  Dkkmh, 

their  hetters.  See,  this  fur  is  a  mnssy  color,  and  fur  • 
tlier  south  they  don't  change  hardly  any." 

"  ivod  says  Weasels  are  very  had  things  and  no  better 
than  rats." 

"Tliey  are  much  worse  than  rats,"  said  the  Doctor. 
"In  fact,  they  are  the  most  nndicious,  hhtod-lliirsty,  and 
wasteful  of  all  our  fourfoots.  They  are  all  the  time 
lircakiiig  Heart  of  Nature's  law,  ^ 'i'ake  wiiat  ye  need 
for  food,'  killing  merely   for  the  pleasure  of  it,  and 


,  V  ■' 


184 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


only  taking  a  suck  of  blood  here  and  a  bite  of  flesh 
there. 

"  Tlie  Weasel  twists  and  winds  its  supple  body  into 
holes  where  nothing  but  a  snake  could  follow,  now 
writhing  along  as  if  it  liad  no  legs,  then  stretching  its 
neck  and  ])eering  round  with  the  wagging  head  and 
wicked  eyes  of  a  Cobra.  He  devours  mice,  and  sliaip- 
toothed  rats  tremble  before  1dm.  If  he  could  learn  to 
forsake  bird-nesting  and  chicken-killing  and  wreak  liis 
love  of  slaugliter  on  the  '  nuisance  animals,'  he  might 
easily  cease  being  the  worst  of  nuisances  himself.'" 

"  This  Mink  looks  a  good  deal  like  the  Weasel,"  said 
Rap,  "except  that  it  is  longer  and  not  hail  so  snaky. 
It  is  a  nice  brown,  too,  like  mother's  muff  that  father 
brought  her  frcmi  New  York  long  ago  when  I  was  a 
baby,  and  that  she  keeps  done  up  in  his  silk  handker- 
chief in  a  bandbox." 

"  It  doesn't  smell  very  nicely,"  said  Nat,  "'  though  not 
so  badly  as  the  Skunk.  Ls  it  .^  tierce,  wicked  beast, 
too?" 

"  For  steady-goin'  mischief  the  Mink  is  only  about 
two  steps  behind  the  Weasel,"  broke  in  Nez.  "  The 
Weasel  is  freaky  ;  he'll  do  a  lot  of  mischief  in  one 
place,  and  then  take  himself  oft'  for  a  long  spell ;  but 
the  Mink  noses  out  a  tine  hen  roost  and  then  settles 
down  under  a  shed  near  by  to  enjoy  himself." 

"  If  it's  in  May,"  added  the  Doctor,  "  half  a  dozen 
little  Minks,  hairless  and  blind  at  first,  may  be  hidden 
in  the  feather-lined  nest,  and  many  a  choice  morsel  will 
be  brought  them  before  they  are  fully  grown  in  au- 
tumn, and  leave  their  mother  to  start  life  for  them- 
selves.    Day  and  night  Minks  go  hunting  and  fishing 


1.' 


NEZ  long's  menagerie 


185 


Thk  Mink. 


too,  sometimes  catcliinf^  animals  twice  theii"  own  size  ; 
now  a  Muskrat,  then  a  Hare,  a  Grouse,  or  a  fine  Trout, 
for  the  Mink  is  as  much  at  home  in  the  water  as  a 
Muskrat,  swimming  and  diving  easily.  "Thus  we  find 
him  everywhere,  not  only  in  all  the  temi)erate  parts  of 
the  (M)untry,  but  in  all  sorts  of  places,  from  the  haidts 
of  lonely  watercourses  to  a  burrow  under  the  cow 
barn." 

"It  seems  very  queer  that  mother's  muff  once  went 
sneaking  and  tramping  all  over  the  country,"  said 
Kap. 

"  If  Dodo  knew  about  Minks,  and  how  savage  they 
are,  I'm  sure  she  would  be  afraid  of  her  little  tippet 
with  the  head  and  claws.     I  never  thought  before  how 


186 


FOUIi-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


III 


lit 

% 


all  our  fur  things,  caps  and  mittens  and  gloves,  once 
walked  about.  I  wish  they  could  tell  us  stories  about 
themselves.'' 

"I  know  a  story  a  sealskin  jacket  told  me  once  ui)()u 
a  time,"  said  Olaf,  who  had  been  sitting  quietly  by  the 
lire  smoking  his  pipe. 

"  A  real  true  story,  and  will  you  tell  it  to  us  some 
day?" 

"  Surely,  yes,  and  some  day  soon,  for  it  is  a  winter 
story." 

"Come,  don't  go  floating  up  the  Pacific  to  the  fur 
islands  after  Seals  yet  awhile,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  There 
is  one  more  important  fur  beast,  almost  as  large  as  the 
Otter,  but  it  is  not  found  as  far  south  as  here.  He 
loves  the  dark  pine  forests  that  furnish  him  good  shel- 
ter, as  well  as  a  playground,  for  he  spends  most  of  his 
time  in  tlie  trees,  even  making  his  nest  in  a  tree  hole 
in  preference  to  the  ground." 

"  What  is  he  called  ?"  asked  Rap.  "  Is  there  a  pict- 
ure of  one  at  homo  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  you  will  find  that  he  looks  something  like 
a  cat,  and  something  like  a  Fox.  In  the  woods  and  in 
books  his  name  is  Pine  Marten,  or  American  Sable. 
When  he  is  turned  into  muffs  and  collars,  he  has  a 
grander  name  yet,  —  Hudson's  Bay  Sable.  He  has  a 
very  handsome  coat,  and,  like  most  of  his  tribe,  the  fin- 
is finest  at  the  beginning  of  winter.  He  has  not  only 
under-fur,  but  two  kinds  of  outer  as  well,  and  his  buck 
is  a  handsome  mellow  shade  of  brown,  in  contrast  to  his 
dark  tail,  which  is  especially  valuable." 

"Is  the  IMne  Marten  a  chicken  thief,  too,  like  tiie 
Weasel  and  Mink  ?  "  asked  liap. 


lii 


Bs,  onco 
!S  about 

ce  upon 
^  by  tliu 

us  some 

a  winter 

»  the  fur 
"  There 
ere  as  the 
eve.  He 
>H)od  shel- 
ist  of  liis 
tree  hole 

3ro  a  pict- 

Lhing  lil^e 
lis  and  in 
hn  Sable. 
he  has  a 
He  has  a 
le,  the  fur 
not  only 
his  back 
•list  to  his 

I,  like  the 


Pine  Martkn  and  Rkd  Squirrel. 


lookiii 

Ol'OSSW 
CIISM  ill 

He  s(( 

aiiotlic 

and  w, 

"Th 

N'ordiw 

calls  i( 
thoy  ai( 
art'  l)i'(i 

I(lllir.||,i 
ll'iilll    ((| 


NEZ    LONG   S  MENAGERIE 


187 


••  I  dare  say  he  would  eat  chickens  if  they  caine  in  Ids 
way,  but  he  does  not  care  to  stay  about  farms,  and 
lives  on  Squirrels,  birds,  and  many  of  the  smaller 
uuisancie  animals,  and  when  driven  to  it  he  will  eat 
even  beechnuts." 

"  My,  though  !  if  those  Martins  ain't  got  tempers  I  "' 
said  Nez.  "  And  don't  they  jest  tight  tierce  when 
once  they  start  I  I  saw  one  kill  a  Kabbit ;  it  wasn't 
satistied  with  killin',  but  went  on  and  tore  and  chiwed 
and  (diawed  it  all  to  bits. 

"  Vou  shoidd  see  'em  try  to  ketch  S([uirrels,"  he  con- 
tinued. "  Martins  likes  to  git  up  in  a  tree  and  drop 
down  suddent  on  their  prey.  That  evenin'  a,  nice,  big 
K(m1  S(purrel  was  setting  on  a  i)ine  branidi  with  his 
hack  t<»  llie  tree,  takin'  a  naj),  though  I  suspect  he  was 
more  awake  than  he  seemed.  Along  comes  the  Martin 
down  from  tlu^  tree-toj),  peerin'  this  way  and  that, 
lookin'  to  make  an  easy  drop.  'I'here  wu/  a  bran(di 
crosswise  above  the  S(piirrel  and  the  Martin  luicouldn't 
manage  the  jum[)  anyhow.  Then  he  began  to  spit  and 
cuss  and  snarl  lik*^  mad,  but  the  S(piirr(d  nevtu*  budged, 
lie  sto|)p(Ml   still    until    the    Martin    went   over   tct   try 


d   1 


mother  side,  then  opened   his  eyes,  gave  a   i)ig  jump, 


d 


>ir  (diatt( 


it(di 


itth 


and  was  otr  cliatterin    like  a  watchmim  s  raliuf. 

''There's  aiiothei-  Martin  I've  trappj-d  out  in  the? 
Xoithwest,  that's  every  bit  as  big  as  an  Otter  and 
swims  and  lishes  like  one,  for  whicdi  ri'ason  some  bdks 
calls  it  a  Kisher,  and  some  a  Whwk  Cat  Martin,  though 
tlicv  are  as  mindi  gray  as  bla(d<,  and  their  legs  and  tails 
aiv  hrown,  and  they  hxdcs  something  like  a  little,  lanky, 
long-tailed  Hear.  This  Kisher  will  eat  any  mortal  thing, 
from  one  of  its  own   family  to  a  snake  or  a  I'orkipine. 


188 


FOU Il-FOOTED  AMKllWANS 


llow  it  manages  to  kill  that  I  never  could  see,  thouL;'li 
I  found  (luills  .stuck  all  over  a  Fisher  inside  and  out." 

"  People  who  know,  say  the  Fisher  has  the  knack  of 
killing  the  Porcupine  by  biting  him  in  the  stoniiuli, 
where  he  is  poorly  protected,"  said  the  Doctor.  •>! 
think  he  is  (piite  clever  enough  to  do  this,  for  he  niiin- 
ages  to  take  the  bait  out  of  almost  any  trap,  as  you  and 
Olal'  must  know  by  ex})erience,  and  hides  his  nest  high 
\ip  in  a  tree  hollow  as  wisely  as  an  owl." 

•'  For  stcalin"'  bait  and  tra[)s,  or  makin'  a  genenil 
rumpus,  1  recommend  tiie  Woll'  Martin  I  "  said  Xcz. 
with  feeling. 

"'  I  sup[)»)se  you  mean  the  Wolverine,  or  (iluttoii. 
names  he  gets  for  his  iierceness  ami  supposed  endless 
a[)[)etite,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"That's  he  every  time,"  said  Xez,  striking  his  fist 
on  his  knee.  ''If  yer  can  pack  more  wickedness  ami 
real  thinkin'  mischief  into  a  beast  not  over  three  foot 
long,  with  paws  and  « laws  like  a  Hear,  and  a  face  liko 
a  hear,  a  Fox,  and  a  Wed  I'  all  nuxed  into  one,  show  iiio 
tliat  beast  !  " 

"  Wiiat  kind  of  fur  does  he  wear?"  asked  Nat. 

'•  lU'own,  «d'  as  many  different  sliades  as  tlie  nuittlcs 
on  a  liorse-idiestnut,"  said  tiie  D(M'tor  ;  "the  undcr-fiu 
l)cing  siiort  and  very  soft,  and  the  outer  about  four 
inidies  long,  wiry  and  siiaggy.  'I'iic  soles  of  liis  feet 
even  are  so  hairy  that  (lie  foittprints  look  almost  likt 
those  of  snudl  Hears." 

"Why  do  you  call   Inin  sucli  a  witdce(l  beast,  Ncz .'' 
asked  |{ap. 

"Weil,  I  re(d<on  Fve  good  reason.  In  the  lirsl  [iIikv 
he  kills  anything  that   comes  along,  from  a   moiisf  \\\ 


i 


NE7.   LONG   S  MKNAGKHIK 


189 


to  11  Deer  that's  been  wounded  or  gone  lame.  He  gets 
most  of  his  game  by  sneakin'  or  drop[)in'  on  it,  for  lie 
isn't  a  fast  runner.  IJut  wliat's  worst  about  him  is, 
he's  the  l)iggest  mechller  on  four  legs.  If  a  pair  of  'em 
oils  around  eamj)  when  the  men  are  off,  good-l)y  to  the 
out  lit.  Fust  they'll  eat  everytliing  they  ean  hohl,  then 
tlu'v'll  amuse  themselves  by  clawin'  the  rest  or  carrvin' 


W 1 1 1.  V  Kit  I  MO. 

tilings  away  and  scatterin'  'em.  As  trap  spoilers  they 
hcnts  tlie  record,  —  ileadfalis  or  spring  traps  \\vi\  ail 
tilt'  same,  they'll  get  tlie  bait  without  being  canglit.  and 
most  likely  sp(»il  the  trap  beside." 

-What  isa  .leadfall  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"A  kind  of  a  tiaj*  that  is  often  made  by  digging  ii 
liolc  and  putting  bait  in  and  then  coveiiiig  it  up  with 
sticks  and  logs,  so  when  the  beast  yon  want  to  catch, 
smells  the  bait  and  hunts  for  it,  he   falls  into  the  trap, 


190 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


m 


liri 


l-ii 


or  tlie  log  falls  and  shuts  him  in ;  they  are  used  for  all 
sorts  of  beasts  from  Martens  to  Hears,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  Ah,  I  see  I  xV  deadfall  is  a  place  that  if  you  fall 
into  you  die.  Do  House  People  ever  fall  into  these 
things?" 

"  Yes,  sometimes,  unfortunately,  and  in  his  knack  at 
keeping  out  of  danger  tliis  Wolverine  shows  even  more 
ingenuity  than  man  himself." 

"  You  have  no  Coons  now  ?  I'm  sorry,  I  wanted  Nat 
to  see  one  so  lie  would  rei'ognize  it  if  he  should  come 
across  it  in  the  home  woods." 

"  Nez  I  uncle  I  daddy  I  Look  (juick,  one  of  the 
beasts  has  come  to  life  and  lias  climbed  up  that  beam 
by  the  chimney,"  whispered  Nat,  suddenly  jumping  up 
and  getting  behind  his  father. 

"•  Speaking  of   Coons,  there   is   one   now,"  said   the 
Doctor.      "  Is  that  a  camp  pet  or  a  visitor  from  the 
s  : 

"He's  a  i)et,"  said  Nez.  "He  belongs  to  Dom'nik 
and  the  Fox  to  IMionse ;  we  took  him  last  May  from  an 
old  tree  over  by  the  pit,  when  we  were  cuttin'  poplars 
for  charcoal.  Keep  still  and  maybe  he'll  come  down 
and  play  with  Foxcy  —  he  d»)cs  sometimes." 

The  boys  watched  (juictly  for  a  few  minutes.  At 
first  the  Conn,  or  Raccoon  as  he  is  really  named,  sat  up 
with  his  paws  folded  like  huiry  hands  and  watched 
tliem.  He  was  about  two  I'ccl  and  a  half  high,  his 
body  was  covered  with  wonderfully  soft,  deep,  brindled 
VVoodchuck-colored  fur,  and  the  round  tail  that  liiuit; 
nearly  a  foot  below  the  beam  was  banded  with  gray 
and  black.  His  bright  eyes  and  [)ointed  fact-  wore  an 
ox[)resMion  of  innocence,  and  yet  of  great  intelligciice 


NKZ  long's  MENAGEIilE 


191 


also,  that  closely  reseinl)lc(l  the  Fox's  who  was  sitting 
luider  the  table  looking  iij)  at  hiin. 

Presently  Mr.  Coon  came  deliberately  clown  to  the 
floor,  ambled  on  all  fours  to  the  table  with  the  awkward 
gait  of  his  big  cousin,  the  liear,  climbed  on  top  and 
be^an  tasting  the  various  scraps  of  food  that  remained, 
using  his  iove  paws  exactly  like  hands. 

The  Fox  came  h'om  under  the  table  and  sat  U})  on 
the  broad  bench  sniffing  anxiously.  The  Coon  paid  no 
attention  to  him,  but  picked  up  a  piece  of  bread,  jumped 
off  the  tal)le,  dipped  the  bread  in  the  water  pail,  ate  it, 
took  a  scrap  of  meat,  washed  it  also  and  then  gave  it  to 
the  Fox,  with  all  the  quickness  and  intelligence  of  a 
monkey,  and  then  began  washing  more  bread  for  him- 
self. 

Tlie  boys  could  keep  quiet  no  longer. 

"  Why  does  he  wash  the  bread  ?  "  asked  Nat  aloud. 

At  this  the  Coon  retired  to  his  beam,  pushing  the 
last  bit  of  bread  into  his  njouth  with  one  paw. 

"  Washing  their  food  is  a  great  habit  of  Raccoons," 
said  Mr.  Hlake.  "  I've  seen  hundreds  of  them  down 
about  the  southern  lagoons,  and  they  bathe  and  swim 
and  [)iuldle  about  the  water,  poking  under  stones  for 
ciaylish,  mussels,  and  little  crabs,  half  the  night.  In 
fact,  the  last  half  of  the  Latin  name  the  Wise  Men  give 
them.  Infni\  refers  to  tliis  washing  habit  of  tlieirs. 

"Vou  should  see  them  scampering  rcuuid  by  niooii- 
bgbt,  like  a  parcel  of  monkeys  at  l>lay.  Down  they 
conu'  fnnn  the  high  trees  when*  tliey  iuive  theii"  nest 
linies.  splashing  over  the  lily  pads  and  sliding  into  the 
water.  They  are  fond  of  everything  eatable,  from  crabs 
to  sweet  corn,  and  often  fall  victims  to  this  love  of  the 


MMk 


mym 


192 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


coniHekls.  An  autumn  Coon  hunt  was  one  of  tlie 
events  of  the  year  on  the  old  plantations,  and  it  is  not 
yet  out  of  style." 

"  Mammy  Bun  says  Coon  hunting  is  fine  sport,"  in- 
terrui)ted  Xat.  "  She  suys  the  men  go  out  with  dogs 
and  axes  and  chase  tlie  Coons,  and  they  generally  i-im 
up  a  tree,  and  then  if  the  men  can't  shake  the  Coon  out 
of  the  tree,  they  cut  it  down  and  let  the  dogs  figlit  the 
Coon  and  shake  it  to  death.  I  think  that  is  a  cruel 
way  to  kill  such  a  pretty  four  foot." 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you,"  said  the  Doctor ;  "  it  is 
even  more  unnecessary  than  allowing  the  Fox  to  lie 
torn  to  bits  after  he  lias  run  iiis  best;  for  though  the 
Coon  is  very  bright  in  some  ways,  he  can  be  easily 
trapped  and  the  Fox  cannot." 

"  Every  one  is  sleei)y,"  said  Rap,  presently  ;  "  the 
Coon  has  gone  to  slee[),  and  the  Fox  too,  all  curled  up 
like  a  dog,  and  (^laf  will  nod  himself  into  the  fire  in 
another  minute." 

"  I  think  you  and  Nat  had  better  climb  into  your 
bunk  in  the  corner  and  join  them  in  dreamland,"  said 
tlie  Doctor.  *'  Vou  see  Toinette  and  the  little  boys  liiivc 
disap[)earcd  under  tlieir  l)lankels  in  the  otlier  room." 

"The  snow  lias  stopped  falling  and  the  wind  is  drift- 
ing it  around  at  a  great  rate,"  said  Mr.  Hlake,  opeiiiii- 
the  door  as  lie  spoke,  when  u  great  whirl  of  snowfiiikcs. 
like  the  luunch  of  a  fiiiry  tree,  slij)i)ed  past  liim  into  the 
cabin  and  tui'iied  to  drops  of  water  (»n  tlie  Ixiaids, 
"Suitptisc  wc  take  a  mouthful  of  air  before^  we  turn  in. 
Ne/,  \\(!  will  go  with  you  to  put  the  Fox  and  the  ('(hhi 
in  their  pens,  and  see  if  your  fur  shop  is  safe." 
«  <i»  •  «i»  « 


i 


ne  of   the 
1  it  is  not 


sport,"  in- 
with  dogs 
lerally  run 
e  Coon  out 
vs  fight  tlie 
i  is  a  crutl 

tor  ;  "  it  is 

Fox  to  be 

though  the 

n  be  easily 

iiitly  ;  "  tlie 
I  curled  up 
the  fire  in 

b  into  your 
nhind,"  said 
le  hoys  liave 
»r  room. ' 
ind  is  drift- 
Ue,  opciiiii',' 

snowflakcs. 
Iiim  into  the 
Itlu^   hoards. 

\\v  turn  ill. 
lid  the  <'<»'ii 

15 


'llIK   UA('«'(M)N. 


NEZ  LONG'S  MENAGERIE 


193 


''We  can't  undress  very  much,"  said  Nat,  beginning 
and  ending  by  taking  off  his  shoes,  "so  it  will  be  real 
easy  dressing  in  the  morning,  and  I  want  to  see  the 
Porcupine  that  is  over  in  the  shed  the  tirst  thing. 
Don't  go  to  sleep  yet,  Rap,  1  won't  be  a  minute."  Kap, 
however,  was  asleep  the  moment  he  sank  between  the 
new  red  blankets,  —  a  present  from  Mrs.  lilake  to  Toi- 
iiette,  —  that  covered  the  armful  of  hemlock  branches 
that  served  as  a  mattress. 

The  men  came  back,  went  to  bed  and  to  sleep,  and 
soon  the  wind  outside  was  the  only  sound,  while  occa- 
sional flashes  from  the  smouldering  log  lire  kept  the 
cabin  cheerfully  light. 

For  some  strange  reason  Nat  could  not  sleep;  he 
dozed  a  dozen  times  ;  then  the  wind  whistled  between 
the  logs  of  the  cabin  and  he  started  up  again.  Once  he 
saw  a  couple  of  mice  chasing  each  other  about  the 
hearth,  tlien  a  shadow  moved  along  the  roof  timbers. 
Was  it  the  Coon  ?  No,  for  both  Coon  and  Fox  had 
been  taken  to  their  sleeping-quarters  in  the  shed. 

Nat  looked  again  ;  the  shadow  grew  deeper,  took  a 
solid  form,  and  dropped  to  the  floor.  An  extra  bright 
Hash  from  the  Are  showed  him  what  looked  like  a 
bundle  of  some  white-tipped  fur.  The  mysterious 
thing  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  an  animal  —  a 
Porcupine  !  He  could  see  its  eyes  glitter  as  it  moved 
awkwardly  across  the  floor  to  the  very  corner  wliere 
lie  was  lying. 


I  'i 


m 

-J 
II 


■•7-      k 


XIV 


FOXES   AND   SNOW-SHOKS 

,EERIN(t  out  and  very  mucli  frigliteiUMl. 

js._-    at  first  Nat  was  going  to  call,  tlien  lie 

""*"'f^%^>j'c||f^     tliouglit  that  perliaps  he  miglit  startle 

tlie  Porcupine  and  make  liim  angry. 

so  lie  staid  quite  still  waiting  to  see 

w^'!9icz:^i;r^     what  would    happen.     Everything  was 

painfully  quiet ;    why  did  not  one  of  the 

others   wake    up?     Even   a   snore   would   have 

sounded  conq)anionable. 

Tlie  Porcupine  ambled  toward  tlie  bunk,  but 
stopped  by  one  of  the  posts  tliat  supi)orted  it  and  began 
to  gnaw  with  Ids  strong,  sharp-cutting  teeth.  Next  lie 
sampled  all  four  legs  of  the  table,  then  went  to  the 
water  pail  ;  he  seemed  to  s(;ent  the  tracks  of  the  Coon 
and  Fox  and  crouched  in  a  heap  with  his  quills  bristliiio' 
on  his  l)ack  and  his  tail  ready  to  strike.  Finding  that 
lie  was  not  disturbed,  he  began  walking  about  again, 
finally  climbing  up  to  a  log  that  ran  across  the  face  (if 
the  chimney ,  (]uite  near  tlu;  I'oof. 

In  spite  of  feeling  a  tritle  afraid,  Nat  (iould  not  lii'lji 
noticing  how  easily  tii(!  I'orcupine  (dimbcMl  and  swinii; 
himself  about,  but  when  the  animal  had  settled  himself 
cond'ortably  on  the  beam,  something  happened  that  was 
so  strange  that  Nat  first  rul)bed  his  eyes  to  1)0  sure  that 

1U4 


FOX  A'.S   .1  .V 1)    SNO 1 1 '-  SHOES 


VX) 


lu'  was  really  awalcc,  and  tlieii  nianat»'e(l  to  wake  Map 

le    Poreiipiiie    was 


t(*   share    in    liis    astonishment.       Tl 
siii.n'ing  :  1 

'•  Wliat  is  it,  and  where  did  it  eonie  from?"  whispered 
Kap,  only  dindy  eonscions  of  where  ])e  was, 

Nat  whispered  baek  all  he  knew  of  the  matter. 

'•It  must  be  the  tame  Porcupine  from  the  shed  that 
(•rt'[)t  out  when  Xez  went  to  put  back  the  Fox  and  the 
Coon,"'  said  lva[),  who  was  (piick  to  draw  conclusions, 
"  so  J  don't  think  he'll  hurt  us  ;  but  1  never  knew  be- 
fore that  they  could  sing  like  that  ! " 

Tiie  Porcupine's  song  was  indeed  very  strange.  At 
first  it  sounded  like  a  particularly  hiip[)y  tea  kettle, 
al)riiii  with  boiling  water  ;  then  it  began  to  rise  and 
full,  liaving  some  quite  musical  notes,  linally  dying 
away,  blending  with  the  whistling  of  the  wind. 

Hy  th'S  time  somebody  stirred  in  the  opposite  corner. 
Ne/.  tuml)led  up,  with  the  instinct  of  a  woodsman,  to 
l)Ut  more  wood  on  the  tire,  so  that  Nat  ventured  to  call 
his  father. 

'' A  P(n'cupinel  Nonsense!  Where?"  shouted  ^Ir. 
Blake,  not  over  willing  to  come  out  of  his  blankets. 

"Tlie  stories  in  your  head  and  the  fried  Scpiirrel  in 
your  stomacli  have  made  a  plan  between  them  tt)  give 
you  some  dreams  I  " 

"  Really  no,  daddy.  Rap  is  awake  and  has  seen  it  too, 
and  we've  heard  it  sing.  Oh,  be  careful,  it's  coming 
down  again  I  " 

Mvcry  one  was  awake  now.  Toinette  and  the  little 
hoys  j)eeped  in  from  their  part  of  the  cabin,  Nez  lighted 

'  Tilt'  author  is  indclitcd  to  Mr.  Ahliott  II.  'I'liayer  and  Dr.  E.  A. 
MoMnis  for  information  reuardinjj,'  tlu;  habits  of  I'orcnpini's. 


196 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICAN H 


a  lantern,  the  Doctor  began  pnlling  on  his  boots,  while 
Ohif  took  a  long-  pole  belonging  to  an  eel  spear  from 
tlie  corner. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  kill  him?  "  asked  Hap 
'•  ( )h,  now  lie's  np  on  the  table  I  " 

''  No,  pnt  him  in  this  bag,"  said  Nez,  taking  an  old 
meal  sack  from  nnder  his  bnnk.  "  The  only  way  to 
catch  one  of  these  critters  alive  without  wishin'  liini 
dead  is  to  poke  him  oif'  somewhere  into  somethiiisr. 
So  " —  Scratchy  Push,  and  after  a  short  struggle  the  dis- 
turber, making  queer  faces  all  the  while,  was  securely 
bagged  and  the  cabin  retired  to  sleep  again,  while  tlie 
Porcupine  spent  tlie  night  under  the  table,  too  much 
disgusted  by  the  small  size  of  his  quarters  to  give 
another  concert. 

***** 

It  was  still  dark  the  next  morning  when  the  hoys 
smelled  coft'ee  boiling.  Other  things  beside  the  early 
liour  contributed  to  the  darkness,  —  the  windows  were 
small  and  few  at  best,  and  the  panes  were  turned  into 
ground  glass  by  the  heavy  coating  of  frost.  The  pail  (if 
cold  water  did  not  make  bathing  seem  attractive  to  Nat. 
who  edged  away  from  it,  saying  that  he  had  not  bronoht 
a  sponge;  but  Rap,  who  was  used  to  rough  living,  (lij)pe(l 
his  face  in  the  water,  shook  off  the  big  drops,  luid 
polished  it  with  his  handkerchief. 

"I  don't  believe  my  hands  will  be  clean  for  a  month," 
said  Nat,  looking  at  his  red,  chapped,  grimy  paws. 

"  It's  fun  camping  for  a  little  while,  but  beds  witli 
sheets  are  so  comfortable,  and  Rap,  —  don't  you  think 
in  winter  camping  is  pretty  smelly  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  it  is  ;  but  then  you  know  real  camp- 


FOXES  AND   SNOW-SHOES 


197 


iiio-  in  wild  places  is  different  from  [)layini>"  lit  it  as  we 
(1(1  ;  those  jjeople  work  all  day  and  an;  too  sleepy  at 
iiinht  to  notice  smells.  Nez  is  so  busy  all  day  long 
out  in  tlie  cold,  that  when  he  comes  in  he's  too  sleei)y  to 
l)()ther  about  little  things.  Toinette  cooks  things  A  1 
iUivway.  1  wonder  what  we  are  going  to  have  for 
breakfast  ?  Son'<ething  that's  fried  in  a  big  pan  of  fat. 
Do  you  suppose  it's  doughnuts  ?  " 

"  You  supposed  right,"  said  Nat  a  few  minutes  later, 
;is  Nez  called  them  to  the  table,  where  there  was  a  flat 
willow  basket  piled  high  with  the  puffy  brown  balls. 
Here  comes  ham,  too,  with  funny  lumpy  sauce  poured 
over  it.     I  wonder  what  it  is  ?" 

"  Sauce  of  ze  chestnut,  vary  line,  m'sieurs ;  ze  sauce 
of  my  count ree.  I  mak  also  ze  dish  of  ze  countree  of 
ma 'usband — ze  doonut,  but  zat  ting  of  his  countree, 
ze  pi,  I  mak  not,  bah  I  Shall  it  kill  de  red  from  the 
cheek  de  mes  (jargons?  I  name  it  not  wiz  ze  pate  of 
ma   countree   whose   top    it    shall   fly   away    vile  you 


hue. 


The  Doctor  laughed  heartily  at  Toinette's  dislike  of 
pie,  saying  :  '"•  You  are  right,  Toinette,  pie  is  very  poor 
food  for  little  boys  ;  but  I  have  hard  w^ork  to  make  Nat 
think  so.  Though  I  do  not  believe  in  doughnuts  for 
breakfast,  yours  are  so  light  and  free  from  grease  that 
you  nuist  not  expect  to  have  one  left." 

"  Ah,  you  are  vary  polite  to  zay  it,"  replied  Toinette, 
blushing  and  pouring  a  sort  of  porridge  into  the  bowls 
that  stood  at  the  children's  places.  "  Zis  is  ze  plumb 
potage  of  Fete  de  N(")el,  but  we  did  have  it  on  ze  fete 
day  of  ma  'usband's  countree  —  ze  T'anksgiving." 

Nat  and  Kap  were  soon  iishing  the  big  raisins  out 


198 


FOUli-FOOTEI)  AMERICANS 


i 


^■11 


II 


of  tlie  liot  p()n'i(lt»e   witli  their  spoons,  as  eagerly  as 
l)omiiii(]nc  and  IMioiise. 

''  Isii''t  it  good  ? "'  said  Rap,  as  lie  neared  the  bottom 
of  the  ])o\vL  "Scrape,  scrape,  scrape,"  said  Nat's 
spoon  for  answer. 

'■fC  TJC  r^  7|C  Sft 

Tlie  boys  were  very  ninch  disaj)pointed  at  tlie  con- 
dition of  the  snow  that  nun-ning.  The  wind  liad  blown 
all  night  and  drifted  it  so  badly  tlnit  tlie  liiils  were 
qnite  bare,  and  coasting  was  impossible,  while  sonic  of 
the  little  hollows  were  full. 

"In  my  day  coasting  never  amounted  to  anything 
bef(>re  Christmas,"  said  the  Doctor  ;  "these  early  snow 
flurries  sel(htm  lie  eveidy.  One  thing,  Nat,  if  Nez  will 
lend  you  a  pair  of  snow-shoes  and  siiow  you  how  to  use 
tliem,  you  can  practise  nicely  down  there  at  the  foot  of 
the  sloju'." 

"  r  should  thiidv  I  could  walk  on  them  without  being 
taught  how,"  said  Nat.  "The  snow-shoes  Toiiu'tte 
showed  me  yesterday  looked  something  like  tennis 
rackets  with  toe  loops  and  aid\le-ties  to  keep  them  on. 
Sliding  along  with  them  would  be  just  as  easy  as  any- 
thing." 

"  So  you  think.  If  you  succeed  in  walking  ten  steps 
on  them  to-day,  you  shall  have  a  pair  of  your  own.  We 
schlom  liave  snow,  down  at  the  I'arm,  deep  enougli  to 
make  such  things  necessary,  though  you  might  liiid 
thi'Mi  usel'ul  in  goijig  to  school  some  morning  aftcra 
storm  lu'foi'c  the  roads  arc^  broken,"  said  Mr.  hliikc. 
lo(»king  at  tlie  Doctoi*  willi  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  wliiili 
liowever  Nat  did  not  notice. 

Soon  tliey  went  out  to  tlie  shed  to  have  a  more  pin- 


I 


FOXES   AND   SXOW'-SirOES 


109 


igerly  as 

e  bottom 
lid   Nat's 


-J  the  con- 
Kid  blown 
liills  were 
ie  some  of 

I  anytbing 
Lnirly  SHOW 
f  Nez  will 
bow  to  use 
tbe  foot  of 

bout  being 
!S  ToiiH'tte 

ike  tennis 
h)  tbem  on. 

iisy  as  any- 

L  ten  steps 
own.    NVe 

cnou^li  to 
luuiJfld   linil 
iiii^  alter  ii 

eye,  whii'li 

I  more  i)ai- 


ticular  view  of  Nez'  Afeinigerie,  and  look  at  Nat's  Fox, 
which  was  to  be  skinned  for  him  to  take  liome. 

•'  I  wonder  if  the  tame  Fox  knows  that  the  old  Fox 
may  be  one  of  his  relatums,  perhaps  his  grandfathei' ?  " 
said  Rap,  as  the  little  beauty  sniffed  about  the  skin 
that  Nez  was  peeling  off  as  neatly  as  a  glove  turned 
wrong  side  out. 

'•  1  slumld  not  be  surprised  at  anything  a  Fox  nniy 
know,"  said  the  Doctor,  "for  in  .spite  of  the  fact  that 
they  are  continually  hunted,  they  still  manage  to  out- 
wit IIou.se  Peo[)le,  and  increase  and  live  even  about  our 
hen  houses.  This  little  Fox  evidently  recognizes  one 
of  his  own  family.  I  even  fancy  I  can  see  a  look  of 
recognition  in  his  eyes  as  he  sniffs." 

"  Which  do  you  think  are  the  very  cleverest  Ameri- 
can fouifoots ?  "  asked  liap. 

"The  Ih'aver  has  a  very  special  sort  of  intelligence 
in  the  way  of  building  his  home,  damming  \i\)  the  water 
necessary  to  protect  it  and  in  storing  up  food;  but  for 
pure  wit  and  cunning  I  think  the  dog  family,  or 
('(iitli/(f\  nuist  be  given  lir.st  place." 

••The  dog  family  I  I  didn't  know  there  were  any  real 
Anu'riean  dogs,"  .said  Nat. 

"  Wolves,  Foxes,  and  the  Coyote  of  the  plains  are 
first  cousins  of  tiie  dogs  we  keep  as  comi)anions. 
Don't  you  know  that  we  have  called  our  hig  dog  Mr. 
Wolf  heeause  he  is  ab(»ut  the  size  and  the  shape, 
lliough  not  tlie  color,  of  tlu^  Timber  Wolf.'" 

"These  I{ed  Foxes  look  like  dear  litth^  collie  dogs, 
except  that  their  tails  are  rounder,"  said  Uap. 

"You  have  often  watehetl  Mr.  Wolf  and  (,)uiik  go 
liuutiiig  together,  starting  olV  as  if  they  had  a  regular 


200 


FO Ult-FOOTED  AMERICA NS 


i* 


plan  of  ciuu[)iiigii,  working  to  ami  fro  on  a  scent  they 
have  found,  gaUoping,  sneaking,  and  finally  stalking 
their  game  ?  " 

"Oil,  yes  I"  cried  Nat,  "I've  often  seen  them,  and 
then  wlien  they  come  back  if  it's  a  Woodchuck  or  a 
Muskrat  or  a  Skunk  tliey  have  cauglit,  Mr.  Wolf  brings 
it  up  to  the  back  door  and  they  both  bark  and  bai  k 
until  some  one  comes  and  tells  them  how  clever  tlicy 
are.  If  their  noses  are  much  bitten,  as  they  most!}'  are 
when  they've  caught  a  Woodchuck,  they  wait  for  Olive 
to  put  vaseline  on  them.  Just  plain  vaseline;  they 
don't  like  the  kind  with  the  carbolic  smell,  that  yon 
put  on  our  hands  when  they  are  scratched ;  it  makos 
them  sneeze  aud  cough  and  rub  their  noses  in  the  ij^rass. 
1  wonder  why  ?  " 

"  Jiecause  the  mcnd)ers  of  the  dog  family  have  sucli 
a  keen  sense  of  smell  that  every  odor  seems  many  times 
more  i)owerful  to  them  than  to  us.  This  is  the  reason 
that  the  Fox  can  snudl  the  scent  of  human  lingers  on 
tlu^  tra])  set  for  him  unless  it  is  dipped  in  water,  or 
snu'ared  with  the  blood  of  a  fowl,  or  some  other  means 
is  taken  to  divert  him,  and  even  then  he  may  have  sus- 
picions." 

"  1  should  think  baby  Foxes  would  be  very  pretty." 
said  iiiip.  "What  tinu;  of  th(!  year  are  they  born  ?  I 
mean  to  look  lor  some  next  season." 

"They  are  b;>rn  hereabont  in  March  or  Ajjril.  In 
May,  when  I  was  a  boy.  I  nsi'd  often  to  s«!e  half  a  (Id/cii 
of  these  bright,  sliar[»-nosed  little  pups  playing  ahoiii 
the  entrance  to  their  earth  bnrrow,  or  creeping  iiioiii: 
tlie  rocky  Ie(lge  or  at  the  base  ol"  the  hollow  tnr  llml 
was  home  t»»  tlnMu.      Hut  mamma  was  always  sure  to  In 


FOXKS  AND   syOW- SHOES 


201 


iieai'  to  warn  tlieiii  ot'  (liinnvr,  an«l  they  obeyed  wliatever 
signal  slie  gave  them  and  disa})[)eared  as  quiekly  as  the 
little  grouse  hide  under  the  leaves." 

'••Are  there  as  many  kincls  ol"    Foxes  as   there  are 
Kid)bits,  or  only  one  kind?"  asked  Nat. 

•"There  are  about  ten  different  kinds,  or  sjxx'/cs,  as 

the  Wise  Men  say  (1  wish  you  to  remend)er  the  word). 

Some  of  them  are  really  tlie  same  animal,  who  wears 

somewhat  different  fur,  aeeording  to  the  plaee  where 

he  lives.     Take  this    Fox  of   Nat's  for  example.     We 

call  him  the   Red  Fox,  being  in   Latin   lliljws  fulviift.^ 

You  see,  lie  has  a  eoat  of  rust  color  and  yellow,     lie 

liiis  two  half  brothers;  one  called  the  Cross   Fox,  uul 

hecause  he  has  a  bad  temjjer,  but  because  his  color  is 

]„   .-ly  red  and  yellow  and  [)artly  ashy  browu,  which 

u        .   .  e)'08(<  mark  on  his  shouhlers.      lie  is  also  related 

t(.        lUer  half  brotlier  of  our   Ued  Fox,  the   lUack  or 

Silver  Fox,  whose  coat  varies  from  dark  gray  to  black 

with  a  sprinkling  of  whitc-tii)pe(l  hairs  and  a  white  tail 

ti[).     'I'his   condition  of  fur  is  [jrized  because  it   is  so 

very  rare,  and  as  much  as  one  or  two  hundred  dollars 

lias  been  paid  for  a  siugU;  skiu.      No  one  but  the  very 

Wise  Mcu  can  tell  these  I)rotiu'rs  apart  half  the  tiuie, 

and  even  one  of  the  wisest   of  these  calls  our  eonunon 

animal  the  Ued-Cross-Silvcr-IMack  Fox." 

"Oh,  deal',  what  a  lot  to  rcmcuilu'r,  anil  after  all,  that 
is  only  one  kind,  -    .vyxv/fw,  I  mean." 

"There  arc  a  couple  of  (dhers,  very  distinct  varieties 
that  you  cau  easily  remember,    -the  (iray  Fox  and  the 
Iti'autiful  white  Arctic  Fox  of  the  I'olar  regions. 
"Tiic  (Jray  is  the  common  Fox  of  the  southein  parts 
1  Scu  plate,  page  158. 


.    i 

202 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


of  the  coiiiitiy  from  the  Athuitie  to  the  Pacific.  Its  fur 
on  tlie  back  is  a  'pepper-and-salt'  gray  witli  a  red  and 
white  Avash  on  tlie  throat,  sides  of  neck,  sides  of  body 
and  legs.  Its  head  is  broad,  and  it  is  neither  as  graceful 
nor  as  finely  furred  as  the  Red  Fox.  This  (iray  Fox  is  a 
more  snarling,  disagreeable  beast  than  his  red  brothei", 
but  does  not  seem  to  be  a  Wood-thirsty  hunter,  and  kills 
merely  what  he  needs  for  food.  Though  he  is  fond  of 
grouse,  chickens,  Rabbits,  and  the  eggs  and  young  of 
game  birds  and  domestic  fowls  alike,  he  also  eats 
M(;a(low  Mice  and  several  kinds  of  rats,  which  habit 
should  b(!  set  down  for  a  good  mark  beside  his  name. 

"The  Gray  Fox  can  climb  well,  for  he  has  strong 
curved  nails  that  stick  out  beyond  the  furred  toes,  so 
he  often  escapes  from  his  enemies  by  going  up  trees 
that  may  be  (piite  branchless  for  twenty  or  thirty  feet. 
He  also  prefers  a  hollow  log  or  tree  to  an  earth  burrow 
as  a  nest  for  his  ])up[)ies,  which  are  not  as  numerous  or 
as  })ret(y  as  tliose  of  our  Red  Fox." 

"•  I  can  reminidu'r  about  that,"  said  Nat.  "The  (Iniy 
Fox  luilongs  to  tlie  south  ;  our  Red-Cross-Silver-IMack 
Fox  to  th(!  mitldle  and  not  too  far  north,  and  tlieu 
there  is  ii   white  om^  for  the  very  far  north." 

"  Ves,  tlie  Arctic  Fox,  M'ho  lives  as  near  to  the  never- 
found  Xoitli  Pole  as  men  hav(f  been  able  to  go. 

"  lie  is  bundled  up  iiiid  dressed  in  tlu;  very  best  style 
for  an  Arctic  cxploicr,  iind  for  this  reason  lii^  looks 
more  like  a  cur  dog,  and  has  not  the  dapper,  tliorou<,''li- 
bred  ai)i)earnn('e  of  liis  sifck  red  cousin.  This  Arctic 
Fox  has  a  bunchy  body  with  short,  round,  fur-liiicd 
ears,  and  mil's  of  fur  which  give  his  face  a  catlike 
expression.      Sunnner   and   winter   his   coat  is   white, 


Its  fill- 
red  and 
of  body 
Q-racefid 
■  Fox  is  a 
brotlier, 
and  kills 
s  fond  of 
young  of 
also   eats 
ich  habit 
4  name, 
.as  strong 
id  toes,  so 
f  np  trees 
hirty  feet, 
tb  burrow 
jnerous  or 

'be  (J ray 
ver-Ubu'k 
and  tbeu 

tbe  nevcr- 

l)ost  style 
be   looks 

tboroni,'1i- 
'his   Arctic 

,  fur-liiied 

>  a  eatliki' 
is   wbitf. 


Aufiu    Kox. 


/ 


FOXES  AND  SyOW-SIlOES 


203 


hut  by  Angiist  the  inider-fur  begins  to  thicken,  and 
when  this  Fox  wears  his  heavy  winter  coat  ami  is  all 
Avhite,  with  the  exception  of  his  light  brown  eyes,  black 
nose,  and  brown  claws,  he  is  indeed  a  beautiful  animal. 
The  under-fur  is  soft  and  thick,  even  the  soles  of  the 
feet  being  well  padded  to  give  their  owners  a  firm  foot- 
ing in  travelling  on  ice,  as  well  as  for  warmth.  The 
tail  is  short  and  very  bushy,  while  the  longer  fur  is 
tliieker  on  tlie  back  than  underneath." 

'•'  What  does  this  Fox  eat  'way  up  there,  and  does  he 
luiike  a  home  burrow  in  the  snow  ?  "  asked  Nat.  "  I 
should  think  he  would  be  awfully  wild,  and  he  must 
work  very  hard  for  a  living." 

"  There  are  no  hen  roosts  to  rob,  but  you  nuist  not 
forget  the  Arctic  breeding  birds  and  the  Polar  Hares. 
Many  an  anxious  day  this  white  Fox  must  give  the 
Siiowflake  in  its  lowly  nest,  while  the  Eider  Duck  and 
(ireat  Snow  Goose  must  think  this  four-footed  snow- 
drift a  veritable  spirit  of  evil.  The  little  ground- 
i)urrowing  Lemming  also  helps  to  fill  up  the  chinks  in 
Mr.  Fox's  stomach.  Then  there  are  the  bits  of  flesh 
and  fat  that  the  Polar  Bear  leaves  behind  when  he  lias 
('a[itured  a  fat  Seal,  and  fish  are  to  be  had  for  the 
cateliing  or  often  the  picking  up.  In  such  a  place 
tlie  Fox  docs  not  have  to  look  for  a  refrigerator  in 
wliich  to  stow  away  sj)are  scraps  for  the  next  meal. 
I"v(^  often  wondered  liow  he  manages  to  get  his  nu»at 
into  the  over-ripe  state  that  all  the  dog  family  consider 
80  delicious." 

"  IMease,  uncde,"  interrupted  Nat,  "why  do  dogs  like 
spoiled  meat  so  much  better  than  fresh?  Quick  always 
i'oUn  and  rubs  his  head  on  any  old  fish  or  dead  bird  he 


204 


FO Ult-FOOTED  AMElllCANS 


«i 


!■ 


finds,  and  Olive  lias  to  keep  two  collars  for  liim  ;  as  slie 
says, '  one  to  wear  and  one  to  air.' " 

"  It  is  an  unsettled  (question  why  this  rolling  is  done  ; 
bnt  it  is  a  fact  that  the  dog  family,  with  a  few  excep- 
tions, are  as  fond  of  rolling  in  carrion  as  a  cat  is  of 
catnip.  The  Arctic  Fox  is  more  clean  and  particular 
than  his  cousins,  perhaps  because  he  has  less  chance  of 
having  spoiled  meat  left  on  his  hands,  and  his  odor  is 
far  less  disagreeable  than  that  of  the  Red  Fox. 

"  The  Arctic  Foxes  live  in  burrows  between  earth 
and  rocks,"  continued  the  Doctor,  "  very  much  like 
their  more  southern  cousins ;  but  instead  of  being  wilder 
tliey  are  much  less  sly  and  suspicious  than  other  Foxes. 
It  is  easy  to  see  the  reason  of  this.  They  live  beyond 
the  usual  reach  of  civilized  man,  and  the  Eskimo  who 
hunts  them  seldom  uses  firearms,  so  these  Foxes  stop 
to  look  at  pursuers  or  bark  at  them  from  the  doors  of 
their  dens  very  much  like  half- wild  dogs.  They  fall 
into  the  simplest  kinds  of  traps  and  count  their  worst 
enemies  the  Polar  Hear  and  ever-hungry  Wolf,  who 
vie  with  the  .  in  hardiness.  Tlien,  too,  tliey  enjoy  the 
safety  of  color  protection,  —  snow-white  fur  to  blend 
with  the  snow  itself." 

"  Talking  of  Foxes,"  said  Mr.  lilake,  coming  across 
the  shed  where  he  had  been  helping  Nez  fold  the  Fox 
skin,  fur  in,  so  that  it  could  be  carried  back  to  the  fanii 
to  be  cured,  "do  you  know  how  Foxes  defend  them- 
selves when  they  fight  each  other  ?  " 

"No,"  said  Kap,  "unless  they  bite  and  scratch  I " 

"They  stand  at  a  little  distance  apart  growling  and 
snapi)ing  ;  when  one  springs,  the  otiier  brings  round 
his  bushy  tail  to  act  like  a  shield  to  his  head  and  throat. 


as  si 


iC 


is  clone  ; 
\v  excep- 
cat  is  of 
(articular 
[iliance  of 
is  odor  is 

• 

een  earth 
audi  like 
ing  wilder 
ler  Foxes, 
^e  beyond 
dvinio  who 
j'oxes  stop 
te  doors  of 
They  fall 

heir  worst 
SVolf,  who 
enjoy  the 

r  to  bli'ud 

liing-  across 
Id  the  Fox 
to  the  farm 
fend  tliein- 

latch ! "' 
|)wling  and 
ings  round 
land  throiit. 


FOXES  AND   SNOW-SHOES 


205 


so  that  all  that  his  adversary  ^ets  is  a  mouthful  of 
fur." 

"  Isn't  that  clever  !     Have  you  ever  seen  them  do  it, 
daddy  ?  "  said  Nat. 

'*No,  but  a  friend  of  mine  —  the  man  who  made  all 
the  pictures  in  your  uncle's  portfolio  and   knows   so 
luueh  of  the  w^ays  of  this  family  of  Wolves  and  Foxes 
that  he  is  called  'Wolf  by  his  friends — sa}^  it  is  so." 
''•  You  know,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  1  told  you  long  ago 
that  every  animal  has  something  that  serves  either  as  a 
tool  or  a  weapon,  and  if  you  listen  to  all  there  is  to 
hear  about  the  tails  of  our  fourfoots,  you  will  lind  that 
they  are  even  more  useful  than  ornamental.     The  big 
tail,  or  brush,  of  the  Fox,  as  hunters  call  the  prize  they 
seek,  may  be  a  trap  to  catch  burrs  and  a  dead  weight 
to  carry  wlien  it  is  water  soaked;  but  you  see  it  is  a 
shield  both  in  battle  and  to  keep  paws  and  nose  warm 
(luring  winter  naps." 
"  Can  Foxes  swim  ?  "  asked  Nat. 
"As  easily  as   dogs,"  said  Mr.    IJlake.     "I  know  a 
story  about  a  very  clever  Fox,  whose  fur,  one  summer, 
was  full  of  fleas  who  bit  him  so  cruelly  that  he  went  in 
swinuning  to  cool  himself.     The  fleas,  not  wishing  to 
he  drowned,  climbed  up  on  his  head,  which  was  the 
only  dry  part  of  him. 

''The  Fox  felt  very  comfortable  for  a  while,  but 
when  he  went  ashore  and  shook  himself  dry,  the  fleas 
([uickly  went  back  to  their  old  hiding-places.  This 
hothered  the  Fox  a  good  deal,  and  he  tliought  about 
the  matter  for  a  great  many  days,  when  he  lay  in  his 
den  hiding  from  the  bright  light,  in  which  you  know 
very  few  of  our  fourfot)ts  care  to  be  seen. 


'  i  ;  ' 

'^ 

206 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I 


"  '  I  liave  it ! '  lie  said  to  liimself.  That  night  there 
was  a  full  moon.  The  Fox  went  down  to  the  river 
where  the  light  came  in  beautifid  silver  stripes  between 
the  trees.  He  pulled  several  bunches  of  old,  worn  fur 
from  his  tail,  and  made  them  into  a  ball  which  he  held 
between  his  front  teeth,  so  that  the  fur  rested  against 
the  end  of  his  nose,  then  he  walked  slowly  and  care- 
fully into  the  water  and  began  swimming  up  and  down. 

"  Soon  the  fleas  collected  on  top  of  his  head,  as  usual. 
Then  he  let  himself  sink  lower  and  lower  until  only  the 
tip  of  his  nose  and  the  ball  of  hair  remained  dry  ;  tlie 
fleas  crawled  to  his  very  nose  tip.  When  he  drew  tliat 
under  water  also,  they  took  refuge  in  the  ball  of  fur. 
Quick  as  a  flash  the  Fox  let  go  the  ball,  and,  diving, 
swam  back  to  shore,  where  he  stood  laughing  a^  the  hall 
became  water  soaked  and  the  fleas  were  drowned  !  " 

"Oh,  daddy,  is  that  a  real  true  story?  Did  your 
Wolf  friend  tell  it  to  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  remember  that  he  did,  but  until  we  meet 
the  clever  Fox  who  drowned  the  fleas,  and  hear  wliat 
he  has  to  say  about  it,  no  one  can  prove  the  story 

untrue." 

«  m  «  «  « 

"  If  you  reckon  on  tryin'  these  snow-shoes,  you  had 
better  come  down  in  the  holler  before  it  gits  any 
softer,"  said  Nez,  bringing  out  the  shoes.  This  par- 
ticular  pair  was  very  simple,  made  of  a  hickory  strip. 
bent  in  an  oblong  until  the  ends  met.  These  ends  were 
fastened  firndy  together,  and  bridged  in  the  centre  by 
a  cross-piece.  This  frame,  which  really  looked  sduic- 
thing  between  a  lacrosse  bat  and  a  tennis  racquet,  was 
latticed  with  strips  of  rawhide  cut  thinner  than  slioe 


FOXES  AND   SNOW-SHOES 


207 


laces.  In  front  of  the  cross-bar  was  a  little  opening, 
to  let  the  toes  move  when  the  foot  Avas  fastened  to  the 
bar,  by  slipping  through  a  stirrup-like  loop.  These 
shoes  were  a  trifle  less  than  four  feet  long,  and  a  foot 
and  a  half  across  at  the  broadest  part. 

''  You  stick  to  the  regular  model,  I  see,"  said  the 
Doctor. 

"  Yes,  I  do  ;  the  mighty  long  ones  and  the  round 
ones  may  have  their  uses  in  places  and  si)ots,  but  I 
don't  want  none  of  'em,"  said  Nez. 

On  arriving  at  the  hollow,  Nez  slipped  his  feet  into 
the  loops,  and  went  across  the  drift  with  slow,  even 
strides,  swinging  one  foot  over  and  past  the  other,  his 
hands  in  his  pockets,  his  body  bending  slightly  for- 
ward. The  boys  were  surprised  to  see  that  the  shoes 
sunk  several  inches  into  the  snow. 

"  1  thought  they  would  help  you  keep  on  top,"  said 
Nat ;  "I  don't  think  they  are  much  better  than  boots." 

'*  For  a  small  snow  like  this,  they  are  not,"  said  Olaf, 
who  had  come  up  from  the  direction  of  the  river. 
"But  fancy  to  yourself  a  snow  eight  feet  deep  or  ten, 
without  a  crust  to  hold  you  up.  How  should  one  walk 
on  it  ?  At  the  first  step  one  sinks,  at  the  second  one 
would  fall  and  smother.  AVith  snow-shoes  one  may  go 
on,  sinking  but  a  little,  and  if  many  men  walk  one  after 
the  other,  soon  a  good  trail  is  made.  Beneath  this  trail 
may  he  the  frozen  sea  or  the  deep  ravine,  but  tlie  snow- 
shoe  will  not  let  the  wearer  sink  to  it.  The  suow-sIkx^ 
i  means  food  and  life  in  the  far  northlands.  There  Nat- 
iure  gives  it  to  the  fourfoots  themselves  —  from  the  fur 
jfoot-[)iul  of  the  Fox  to  the  widening  hoof  of  the 
h'lii'iljou." 


208 


FO UR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Meanwhile  Nez  Avalked  across  several  times  in  the 
same  tracks,  to  make  an  easier  path  for  Nat,  who  was 
impatient  to  try  his  luck. 

"  Now  be  careful,"  called  i\[r.  Blake  and  the  Doctor 
together,  as  Nat  l)alanced  himself  on  the  shoes,  feelincr 
that  his  feet  were  unnaturally  far  apart.  One  step, 
another,  and  Nat's  feet  had  collided,  his  left  shoe  step- 
ping on  the  heel  of  the  right,  making  him  nearly  turn  a 
somersault  and  land  head  down  in  the  snow,  gasping 
and  struggling. 

The  pai'ty  laughed  heartily,  for  Nat  had  been  so  very 
confident  of  success. 

''If  that  were  big  snow  he  were  lost!"  said  Olaf. 
"  If  you  feel  to  slip,  stoop  down,  that  you  do  not  t  oiiie 
off,  so  —  "  and  Olaf  squatted  to  show  his  meaning. 

Nat  was  picked  up  and  tried  again,  but  this  tinu;  lie 
spread  his  legs  so  far  apart  to  keep  from  interfeiin«|' 
that  he  could  not  bring  them  together  again,  and  stood 
still  laughing,  his  arms  crossed  to  keep  him  from  si^rinvl- 
ing,  as  if  he  were  a  model  for  a  fancy  letter  A. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  you  will  learn  bv 
practice  if  we  have  nuu^h  snow  this  winter,  for  I  ain 
going  to  ask  Nez  and  Olaf  if,  between  them,  they  c.iii- 
not  rig  us  up  half  a  dozen  pairs  of  snow-shoes,  so  tlmt 
all  the  household  at  the  farm  can  have  walks  over  the 
fields  when  the  roads  are  choked  and  impassable." 

"  How  jolly  I  "  cried  Nat,  and  then  stopped  as  he  saw 
the  wistful  look  on  Kap's  face  and  remembered  that 
snow-shoes  wonld  be  of  no  use  to  him. 

"  We  must  have  one  of  those  flat  toboggan  sleds,  too, 
uncle,"  he  added  (pdckly,  smiling  at  Rap,  "and  thcnw 
can  take  turns  in  dragging  Dodo  and  mother,  for  they 


FOXES  AND   SNOlV-SIfOEH 


209 


Deen  so  very 


would  1)6  sure  to  be  tired,  and  Iviip  eaii  ride  on  it,  too, 
whenever  lie  wants  to  come." 

"I'm  glad  to  have  you  introduced  to  snow-shoes," 
said  Mr.  Blake,  "  because  tliey  hold  an  important  part 
ill  the  life-history  and  hunting  of  some  of  our  biggest 
oiune,  as  well  as  furnish  the  '  reason  whv '  some  of  our 
nohlest  animals,  like  the  Moose,  are  following  the 
IVatfalo  to  the  Happy  Hunting  (i rounds." 

Olaf,  Nez,  Toinette's  l)rotiier,  and  the  Doctor  v  ere 
talking  earnestly  together  as  Mr.  Blake  turned  toward 
them,  and  the  boys  heard  the  words,  "deer,"  "sharp 
tracks,"  "fine  buck,"  "last  night,"  ending  with  Nez' 
usual  exclamation  of  surprise,  "  Want  to  know  I  " 

"Jacque  lias  seen  a  Deer  two  miles  below  here," 
said  Olaf,  "in  a  cleared  bit  in  the  woods.  He  saw 
liiui  in  the  snow  last  night,  but  was  not  quite  sure 
because  of  the  drift.  Early  to-day  he  saw  the  sure 
prints,  and  later  the  Deer  himself  browsing  with  two 
does,  where  the  wind  had  bared  the  grass." 

"  Deer  were  plenty  all  along  here  and  over  toward 
the  farm  in  my  father's  day,"  said  the  Doctor  ;  "it  will 
be  wonderful  if  they  are  straying  back  again  from 
some  overcrowded  feeding  ground." 

"Perhaps  they  liave  run  away  from  a  MeiiPTerie," 
suggested  Nat. 

"I  think  not,"  said  the  Doctor;  "it  is  evidently  a 
little  family  party  starting  off  to  explore  for  itself. 
At  any  rate  we  will  not  welcome  them  wi.ii  bullets  in 
the  usual  fashion,  but  after  making  sure  of  their  where- 
abouts leave  them  in  peace." 

"  Who  knows,  Nez,  but  we  may  be  able  to  turn  your 
bit  of  woods  here  into  a  place  for  preserving  and  pro- 


!    •     I 


210 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


fill 


tectiiig   some    of   our  fouifoots,   and   mako    you   chief 
gamekeeper  and  ft)rester  general." 

"  I'm  willin',  Doe,  but  1  must  get  a  peep  at  'em  to 
make  sure,"  said  Xez,  his  sporting  blood  throbbing. 

"Yes,"  added  Olaf,  "we  will  go  down  tliis  afternoon 
to  make  sure  that  the  Dream  Fox  has  not  been  showing 
his  picture  book  to  the  good  Jacque." 

"If  you  will  keep  me,  I  will  stay  and  go  with  you; 
I  must,"  said  Mr.  lUake,  capering  about  as  gleefully  as 
Nat  or  Dodo  when  they  suspected  a  surprise. 

"  1  shall  take  the  others  to  the  liidge  then  and  come 
back  and  wait  here  one,  two,  three  days  more  then,  until 
you  are  read}-,"  said  Olaf,  looking  pleased. 

"Which  reminds  me  tliat  we  must  be  starting  home- 
ward in  less  tlian  an  hour,"  said  the  Doctor,  looking  at 
his  watcli. 

"Oh,  r  want  to  see  the  Deer  too  !  "  (iried  Nat. 

"  Sorry  to  say  no  to  anytliing  so  temj)ting ;  but  i 
promised  to  bring  you  botli  safely  back  to  your  motlieis 
to-niglit.  Who  knows,  liowever,"  said  tiie  Doctor, 
cheerfully,  "but  tiiese  same  Deer  may  stray  over  to  the 
farm  woods  and  make  a  visit  !  " 

Tliey  went  back  to  the  cabin  for  early  dinner  ami 
to  say  "good-by"  to  Toinette  and  tlie  boys  and  niako 
them  promise  to  return  the  visit  by  coming  to  tin 
(^iiristmas  party  at  the  farui.  'J'liey  found  the  boys 
waiting  with  a  stout  l)ag  l)etween  them,  in  which  \\;\> 
sometliing  that  nu)ved  about  a  great  deal. 

"  Wluit  have  you  there  —  tiie  lN>rcui)ine  ?  "  usknl 
the  Doctor. 

"  liilly  ('oon,"  replied  IMionse,  plucking  up  couriij;i'| 
to  speak. 


FOXES  AND   SNOW-SHOES 


211 


*'  They  maku  a  gift  to  you  of  the  Coon  to  be  your 
ami,  your  friend,  to  take  a  la  viaison,  to  your  'ouse," 
L'xplained  Toinulte. 

The  l)oys  were  deliglitud,  of  course.  "  jNIannny  Hun 
will  think  we  have  l)rougiit  her  an  okl  friend;  but  I'm 
not  sure  what  your  luollier  and  tlie  dogs  will  say,"  said 
tliu  i)octor  in  an  undertone. 

mm  «  m  m 

Tiie  journey  home  passed  like  a  flash,  and  six  o'eloek 
saw  Uap  seated  l)y  the  stove  iu  liis  mother's  little 
Idtclien  eliatlering  of  all  the  wonders  of  the  trip,  end- 
iii^'  l>y  telling  her  that  her  mink  muff  had  onee  killed 
chifkens,  while  she  listened  as  eagerly  as  if  lie  had 
niado  a  voyage  round  the  world.    ■ 

Meanwhile  the  Doctor  decided  that  the  Coon  was  to 
•;(»  ill  tlie  barn,  and  not  be  introduced  to  the  family 
until  next  day.  Dodo  was  being  entertained  by  Nat, 
ami  was  so  interested  that  she  almost  forgot  to  eat  her 
siijiper,  and  afterward  coaxed  her  uncle  into  bringing 
till'  portfolio  of  pictures  into  tlio  wonder  room,  that 
slie  iiiight  lo(tk  at  all  the  Foxes  and  other  litth;  fur 
bearers,  liut  when  she  came  to  the  picture  of  tlie  l*or- 
i'Ui)ine  and  heard  its  story,  she  gave  a  little  sliiver  and 
uxclaimed,  '"  I'm  glad  now  I  stayed  at  home,  for  if  I  liad 
seen  liiiii  iu  tlie  <lark,  I  should  have  jiuuped  up  and 
sdvanuMl,  and  tlu-n  y(>u  wouldn't  have  heard  him  siug, 
and  most  likely  he  would  have  stuck  me  so  full  of 
inickles  that  I  couldn't  sew  my  Christujas  presents  !  " 


ISBV'fi 


I 


XV 

WOLF! 


one 


"  liistoii.  and  I  will  Icll  v<tu  (lici  stcn'v  of  tlic  irrciit 
(ii'iiy  Wdir,  \vli()S(?  picture!  you  liavo  Iutc,  and  alsn 
about  liis  I    ll«'  hai'kiiijL^'  hrotlici'.  tl;"  Coyote." 

"It  is  sure  to  !><'  a,  jl,^oo(I  Li'-cc  story,"  said  Dodo, 
"hecausi!  Wolves  Ljolilde  jjeople,  you  know.  W'litii 
you  lived  far  away,  were  you  good  friends  with  Wolvts 
unel((  ?  " 

*'Uur  American  Wolves  are  not  man-eaters  as  some 

912 


.hoose  one 

1    *  '' 

^?"   asked 

1 

rday,  wlieii 

■ 

to  select  ii 

r 

choose  this 

E 

siiid    Niit; 

If  \        ^ 

looks  as  if 

iioH'd  to  it." 

in'iutcd  on 

w\  f 

i 

>,   any   trai), 

WkF  > 

nove." 

m  '''■•/    ' 

Doctor,  set- 

pi  0  of  skins 

'a(liii;jf  then) 

)l"  the  ^nr;U 

(',    and   iilsii 

■  ^^i^ 

* « 

■  M.,^^1 

said  l)o(li). 

,o\v.     Wlu'ii 

vitli  Wolves. 

^1 

■■«^>r*;;- 


[I'l's  as  sonio 


TiMHKK  Woi-r. 


I 


if^  il   llij 

in;/  hh 

•'iK'll  ()| 


WOLF! 


213 


!  i 


of  their  Old  Win-lcl  brothers  are  thought  to  be,  but  say- 
iiio-  that  I  am  a  friend  of  Wolves  and  know  all  about 
thiiiii  —  that  is  quite  a  different  matter." 

"  A  Wolf  has  no  friends  ;  he  is  hated  by  twofoots 
and  fourfoots  alike.  As  for  knowiii//  all  about  Wolves 
we  may  know  some  things  and  think  we  know  others, 
but  the  comings  and  goings  of  a  Wolf  are  as  mysterious 
as  the  track  of  the  wind  itself.  Tliey  move  from  place 
to  place  so  suddenly  and  so  swiftly  that  it  would  be 
easy  to  believe  they  flew  on  tlie  storm,  as  witclies  were 
said  to  do  on  broomsticks." 

"  Why  do  you  say  that  some  Wolves  in  other  coun- 
tries are  thoiu/ht  to  eat  people  —  don't  you  believe  they 
do  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

*'  riiey  may  sometimes,  but  it  is  best  not  to  believe 
all  that  is  said  alxmt  animals;  for  there  are  a  great 
many  of  what  Rap  calls  "  boast  stories'  floating  around, 
I'spei'ially  about  Wolves.  [The  Wolf  is  one  of  the  easi- 
est aiiiiuals  to  see  doubled  and  hear  (luadrui)led.^  One 
may  believe  that  a  whole  pack  is  outside  the  tent,  bent 
on  tearing  you  limb  from  limb,  or  swallowing  you, 
sleeping  blanket  and  all,  when  it  is  really  oiUy  one 
mangy  starveling,  snifling  about  for  scraps  of  bacon  or 
a  hit  of  venison  you  have  cached  a  little  carelessly." 

''("ashed  !  "  said  Nat.  "•  I  thought  cash  was  money. 
II(AV  could  you  make  money  out  of  meat,  uncle?" 

'•('ached,  with  a  r,  means  hidden.  It's  a  word  that 
ramc  from  the  French,  round  by  way  of  the  Canadian 
voyageurs.  It  is  in  common  use  in  camp  talk  ;  a  i-ache 
is  a  hiding-place.  The  (iray  S(|uirrel,  instead  of  oach- 
uuj  liis  nuts  all  in  one  [)liice  as  a  Red  Squirrel  does,  puts 
t'acli  one  in  a  separatt?  cai'Iu'." 


214 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"Oil,  yes,  I  can  mule rstancl  that,"  said  Dodo. 

"  When  the  Squirrel  goes  to  find  a  nut,  he  phi}  s 
cache-cache  then,  for  that  is  what  French  chihlren  call 
hide-and-seek,"  said  Olive,  hiughing. 

"  Wolves  all  over  the  world  bear  very  much  the  same 
character.  The  Wolf  is  an  emblem  of  deceit  and  cun- 
ning. A  Wolf,  in  the  legend,  ate  lied  Riding  Hood's 
grandmother  and  tried  to  trick  the  child  herself.  When 
it  is  said  of  peo])le,  '  They  have  hard  work  to  keep 
the  Wolf  from  the  door,'  it  means  that  want,  or  some 
trouble  as  cruel  and  cunning  as  a  Wolf,  is  threatening 
them.  The  (J ray  Wolf,  whose  skin  (the  larger  of  the 
two)  lies  there  on  the  floor,  is,  next  to  the  (irizzly  Bear, 
the  most  cruel  and  desperate  of  our  fourfoots.  Yet  ho 
is  a  coward  ;  if  he  Avere  not  he  would  have  given  battle 
to  the  death  to  thousands  of  the  pioneers  who,  as  it  was, 
struggled  inch  by  inch  in  face  of  desperate  dangers  to 
settle  this  country.  Why  the  Wolf  is  such  a  cowiud 
no  one  knows  ;  but,  fortunately,  he  is,  or  his  race  would 
not  yet  have  been  driven  back  until  even  the  sight  of 
a  Wolf,  except  in  a  part  of  the  West  from  Texas  to 
North  Dakota,  is  a  great  rarity." 

"  If  this  old  Wolf  skin  could  only  tell  what  it  knows. 
the  story  would  not  be  a  dull  one.  I^ook  at  it  tlieiv. 
with  its  long  bristling  gray  and  black  hair,  briii(iU'(l 
with  traces  of  an  undcr-ciolor  of  yellowish  brown  at  its 
base.  'IMie  under-fur  is  soft  brown,  while  on  the  belly 
both  hair  and  t'ur  are  white.  There  is  a  bit  of  buff  alsn 
about  its  lace,  ears,  uiid  Hanks.  See  its  black  whiskt'is. 
the  slantwise  eye  holes,  pointed  ears,  and  straight,  busliy 
tail. 

"The    body  and  head   are  both  long.     This   Wolf 


WOLF! 


215 


0. 

he  pities 
klreu  cull 

I  the  same 
t  and  Clui- 
ng Hood's 
If.     When 
•k  to  keep 
it,  or  some 
lireateuiug 
•ger  of  the 
riz'/Ay  Hear, 
:s.     Yet  lie 
riven  battle 
10,  as  it  was, 


must  have  been  four  feet  and  a  half  from  nose  tip  to 
root  of  tail.  Ah,  yes,  you  handle  the  empty  skin  freely 
enough ;  but  give  it  life,  let  the  strong  white  dog  teeth 
snap  in  its  jaws,  the  bright  eyes  gleam,  and  its  long- 
drawn  howl  come  from  the  black  lips,  and  you  would 
not  stay  near  it  long.  If  it  only  could  si)eak  !  "  said 
tlic  Doctor,  pausing  and  looking  at  the  fire. 

"'  Wough-ow-ow  owou-ough,"  sounded  a  weird  voice 
outside  the  door.  "  Wough-oble-oble-oble-ough-o-u- 
gooow  !  " 

"•  I  lorrors,  what  is  that  ?  "  cried  Olive,  startled  from 
her  usual  calmness. 

"■  It's  Wolves !  "  screamed  Nat  and  Rap. 

"•  A  wliole  pack,  but  they've  come  for  bacon  scraps, 
they  don't  want  us,"  shivered  Dodo,  trying  to  seem 
brave. 

Even  the  Doctor  was  a  little  startled,  but  the  sus- 
pense only  lasted  a  moment.  It  was  broken  b}-  a  ring- 
ing laugh  which,  even  before  he  came  in,  they  all  knew 
belonged  to  Mr.  Hlake. 

'^  Oh,  daddy  !  daddy  !  "  said  Dodo,  "  I  didn't  know  ! 
How  can  you  be  such  an  intimate  friend  of  Wolves 
that  you  could  cry  their  cry,  when  uncle  says  they 
have  no  friends  ?  " 

"  I'm  not  sure  that  I  am  a  friend  of  theirs  either,'' 
said  Mr.  Blake,  throwing  himself  down  on  the  wolf- 
skin rug;  "but  I've  been  among  them  where  they  live, 
and  have  heard  their  talk,  and  have  seen  their  work." 

"Tcdl  tliem  your  story  of  this  WoU  skin,  then,"  said 
the  Doctor:  so  after  thinking  for  a  few  moments,  Mr. 
Blake  Ix'gan  :  — 

"  Kvery  one  knows  the  name  of  Wolf.     This  animal 


216 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


i 

H 


is  sometimes  called  Gray  Wolf,  and  the  Wise  Men  now 
say  Timber  Wolf ;  but  the  simple  word  Wolf  stands  for 
both  cruelty  and  cunning.  His  family  history,  from 
the  time  the  white  men  came  to  settle  in  this  land,  is 
full  of  dark  deeds  and  darker  punishments.  The  Ind- 
ians repeat  many  tales  about  him,  and  tell  how  that 
long  ago  the  Wolf  ate  of  the  meat  of  knowledge.  This 
meat  was  the  flesh  of  the  great  wide-eared,  hornless 
Deer  who  is  no  longer  living,  but  who  was  so  wise 
in  his  day  that  he  taught  the  winds  how  to  blow. 
Whoever  among  the  fourfoots  should  take  one  of  these 
Deer  by  fair  hunting,  and  eat  its  flesh,  won  great 
wisdom  for  his  race,  with  keen  eyes  to  read  hidden  sign 
languages  and  a  nose  to  scent  every  message  of  the 
wind. 

"  The  l^ear  only  licked  a  bit  of  this  magical  meat ; 
this  brought  it  cunning  and  stupidity.  The  Fox,  being 
too  small  to  hunt  it,  nibbled  at  a  piece  he  did  not  kill ; 
this  gave  him  cunning,  together  with  the  penalty  that 
he  should  be  hunted  by  the  beasts  of  his  own  tribe. 
The  Puma  seized  a  piece  of  flesh  another  beast  had 
hidden,  and  so  was  given  cunning  and  a  sure,  swift  leap, 
but  heavy  paws  tliat  weigh  in  running.  Then  a  Wolf 
slew  tlie  last  wing-eared  Deer  of  all,  not  by  fair  chase, 
but  by  trap  and  treachery,  so  that  the  Deer  in  dying 
branded  tlie  Wolf  a  coward. 

"'Hunt  and  lui  ever  hunted,'  he  shrieked.  'Hunt 
with  hanging  liead  and  tail  ;  liuut  treacherously  witli 
wile  and  snare,  for  you  will  have  grcji^  need  of  cunning. 
An  enemy  comes  from  far  across  the  seas,  who  walks 
upright  as  Bears  walk,  having  a  moon-white  face,  in 
one  hand  carrying  fire,  and  in  tlie  otiier  the  fine  white 


% 


WOLF  ! 


217 


earth  that  kills,^  and  he  shall  likewise  devise  magic 
Avands  to  spring  and  hold  you  fast. 

" '  You  will  wage  war  together,  this  man  and  you, 
but  he  will  conquer.  And  as  a  punishment  for  your 
way  of  killing  me,  you  shall  fear  lo  kill  him,  for  your 
real  name  is  Coward  ! ' 

''So  after  many  years  the  white  men  came  from  over 
seas  and  settled,  though  at  first  there  were  but  few, 
and  the  Wolves  still  roamed  at  will  about  the  country 
—  from  the  land  where  the  snow  never  melts,  down 
through  the  woods  and  plains  to  where  the  Rio  Grande 
runs  slantwise  through  the  country  and  the  prickly 
Peccaries  and  cacti  live.  The  northern  Wolves  were 
large  and  grizzly  ;  but  those  in  the  hot  south  were 
smaller  and  had  thinner  fur.  Wolves  wore  handsome 
robes  in  those  days,  and  had  as  many  names  as  Bobo- 
links. They  were  called  White  Wolves  and  Black  in 
tlie  northwest.  Red  Wolves  in  tlie  cactus  country,  and 
Gray  Wolves  everywhere. 

"There  wer<'  some  smaller  Wolves,  v/ho  were  less 
savage  and  less  swift  of  foot  than  their  brothers,  more 
doglike  and  talkative,  who  babbled  the  secrets  of  the 
tribe  and  liked  to  hang  about  the  homes  of  House 
People,  rather  than  live  in  woods  or  caves.  The  larger 
Wolves  disliked  them,  because  they  were  afraid  lest 
they  should  tell  tribe  secrets  ;  so  they  turned  these 
small  ones  out  U>  be  a  tribe  apart,  to  feed  on  meaner 
ijfame,  and  snatcli  and  steal  in  oi)eii  places. 

"These  small  Wolves  were  given  charge  over  sheep, 
Jack  Kabbits,  and  such  timid  things,  and  men  called 
them  Coyotes  (ground  burro wcrs).      But  tlie  Coyote  is 

1  Stryrlinine. 


218 


F0UR-F001\ED  AMERICANS 


» 
€' 

'•:« 


;|i 


fii 


s 


also  a  cunning  huntsman,  and  lays  his  own  traps  and 
chases  Antelope  on  the  plains ;  yet  to-day  there  is 
hatnd  between  the  two  tribes,  and,  if  a  hungry  Timber 
Wolf  meets  his  little  brother,  he  will  often  eat  him  ! 

"Look  at  that  Coyote  skin  on  the  settle;  you  can  see 
it  is  of  a  finer  texture  than  this  Gray  Wolf  robe.  It  is 
sOi-'tly  furred,  a  dark  ripple  running  from  head  to  tail 
and  across  the  brindled  slioulders,  it  has  white  lips,  a 
rusty  face,  and  a  black  tip  to  the  tail,  and  measures  a 
full  tail  length  shorter  than  this  Gray  Wolf's  pelt. 
The  Coyote  is  little  more  than  a  vagabond  wild  dog, 
who  barks  and  howls  around  the  edges  of  settlements, 
licking  his  lips  when  a  lamb  bleats  or  a  cock  crows. 

"  When  the  Buffalo  herds  blackened  the  plains,  the 
Gray  Wolves  lived  by  following  them,  snatching  the 
calves  or  killing  the  wounded  and  feeble  old  ones. 
Then  great  bands  of  Deer,  Elk,  Antelope,  furnished 
them  with  food  at  all  seasons  ;  for  Wolves  with  their 
spreading  feet  could  follow  these  heavy,  sharp-hoofed 
beasts  over  the  deep  snow,  through  which  they  sank, 
and,  spent  and  overcome,  soon  became  the  Wolves' 
prey. 

"  As  the  country  was  settled,  the  Wolves  crept  back  ; 
for  whether  the  Indian's  tale  was  true  or  not,  a  spell 
seemed  to  i)revent  their  killing  men.  Gun,  trap,  and 
poison  were  all  turned  at  the  Wolves,  who  were  also 
chased  with  dogs  ;  but  still  they  worked  mischief  among 
horses,  flocks,  and  herds,  and  still  the  cry  among  the 
frontiersmen  was  '  Wolf  !  Wolf  !  how  shall  we  destroy 
him?'  '^ 

"  Wolves  have  another  fault  besides  sneak  hunting, 
they  break  Nature's  law,  'Take  what  ye.  need  to  eat;'_ 


WOLF  ! 


219 


and  kill  in  times  of  plenty  as  if  for  the  mere  greed  of 
killing,  snatching  a  bite  here,  a  fragment  there,  then 
wasting  all  the  rest.  They  also  have  one  virtue,  which 
is  common  enough  among  the  birds,  but  rare  in  four- 
foots, —  tjiey  love  their  mates;  and  a  friend  of  mine 
wlio  knows  Wolves  as  well  as  we  know  people,  tells  a 
stoiy  of  the  fiercest,  slyest  Wolf  of  all  the  southwest, 
Avlio,  in  despair  at  having  lost  his  mate,  rushed  lieadlong 
into  a  trap. 

''The  home  life  of  the  AVolf  is  very  short.  His  house  is 
only  a  hole  under  some  roots,  or  a  sheltering  cave,  which 
covers  half  a  dozen  little  woolly  puppies  in  the  late 
spring.  Then  the  Wolves  are  happy,  for  it  is  the  season 
when  the  Deer  are  fattening  on  the  young  gi-ass  and 
wear  soft  new  horns.  From  this  time  follows  six  months 
of  good  living,  then  half  a  year  that  is  a  war  with 
famine.  Wolves  do  not  sleep  the  lazy  winter  sleep  like 
Bears,  but  hunt  in  packs,  plotting  to  make  a  living  like 
human  thieves.  If  it  had  not  been  that  long  ago  they 
ate  the  meat  of  knowledge,  they  ^vould  be  gone  and  no 
one  would  understand  the  cry  of  Wolf  I  As  it  is,  there 
arc  still  many  of  them  in  the  northwest  grazing  country, 
and  they  increase  here  and  there  mysteriously  from 
Texas  to  North  Dakota  even  if  men  continually  hunt 
and  harry  them  and  Deer  are  few ;  for  if  bread  fails 
them,  they  relish  cake,  by  which  I  mean  to  say  that,  if 
they  can't  find  venison,  they  are  quite  content  with  veal 
and  mutton. 

"  All  fourfoots  understand  the  speech  of  scent,  more 
or  less,  but  Wolves  certainly  are  wise  with  uncommon 
wisdom  and  have  a  wonderful  sign  and  scent  language, 
if  one  of  the  tribe  dies  of  poison,  the  others  will  not  eat 


ti  ■   r 


ii  I'ii 


P! 


■iil 


I    'i 


M'   :i!: 


220 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


food  scraps  in  that  place.  Does  a  Wolf  of  some  ot)'  ;r 
tribe  run  by,  driven  by  fear;  lie  may  not  be  even  seen, 
but  he  writes  in  his  track  and  stopping-places  the 
message  that  he  wishes  other  Wolves  to  know.  Every 
hair  that  bristles  on  a  Wolf's  back  has  its  own  mean- 


ing. 


"Now  listen  to  the  story  of  this  Wolf,  whose  skin 
is  on  the  floor.  He  and  his  mate  hunted  togetlier, 
often  dashing  at  a  horse  or  Deer,  tearing  its  running 
sinews  from  behind,  with  tlieir  sharp  teeth,  or  some- 
times picking  up  a  calf  that  ran  beside  its  motlier. 
always  having  good  eating.  Often  they  would  find 
a  Deer's  trail,  running  from  its  day  cover  to  a  spring. 
or  to  its  dainty  wood  pasturage.  The  Wolves  did  not 
wish  to  run  together  openly,  for  Deer  are  very  swift. 
and  would  lead  them  a  weary  race,  so  they  would  sniff 
the  night  wind  and  get  before  it  so  that  it  might  not  tell 
their  doings  to  the  Deer.  The  wind  is  fickle,  an  enemy 
to  all  hunters,  always  carrying  along  the  latest  gossip. 
Then  one  wolf  would  lie  hidden  by  the  runway,  while 
his  mate  would  show  herself  openly,  and  drive  the 
Deer,  at  first  gently,  tlien  fiercely,  until  it  would  rim 
blindly  in  a  circle  (a  habit  of  the  family)  to  its  first 
cover,  past  the  very  spot  where  the  other  Wolf  lay  like 
a  living  trap;  one  spring  brought  down  the  Deer  and 
then  the  pair  feasted  at  leisure."' 

"  Oh,  then  that  is  what  'A  Trap '  means  on  this 
picture.  The  Wolf  was  a  trap  for  the  Deer,"  waiil 
Dodo.  "Hut  how  did  the  Wolf  come  to  die  and  lie 
made  into  this  rug  ?  "  ^ 

"  Bad  days  came  soon  after  to  the  pair.     The  she- 1 
wolf  vanished,  House  People  cleared  tlie  timber  from 


•  I 


WOLF! 


221 


that  place  and  shot  most  of  tlie  Deer  to  feed  tliemselves. 
The  next  winter  was  bitter  cold,  and  yet  the  snow  was 
not  deep  enough  for  our  AVolf  to  chase  and  overcome 
wliat  Deer  remained.  So  he  prowled  too  recklessly 
about  a  camp,  and  one  night  stepped  into  a  trap  that 
grijjped  his  leg,  that  hind  leg  that  you  see  now  wears 
no  toot.  The  Wolf  struggled  in  vain  to  pull  himself 
away,  and  then  with  awful  bites  gnawed  himself  free, 
leaving  his  foot  fast  in  the  trap. 

"  Soon  he  grew  hungrier  and  hungrier;  he  could  find 
no  food.  Then,  being  desperate,  he  said,  '  I  would  even 
kill  a  man  ! ' 

"Early  the  next  night  he  stole  down  to  the  camping 
place,  but  he  found  no  one  there,  and  the  campfire  was 
nearly  out.  Wolves  do  not  like  lire  —  and  he  thought, 
'Surely  this  is  my  chance,  perhaps  tliey  have  left  some 
food,'  so  he  stalked  in  as  boldly  as  his  mangled  leg  al- 
lowed. Then  he  stopped,  for  lie  scented  man  !  Soon 
he  went  on  again,  for  stretched  in  the  corner  lay  a 
bundle  in  a  blanket,  —  a  man,  but  hurt  and  helpless. 

"  The  signs  said,  '  This  man  went  out  hunting  with 
his  friends,  he  lost  their  track,  he  fell  and  broke  his  leg, 
his  gun  is  buried  in  the  snow,  he  crawled  back  alone  to 
shelter.'  Then  again  the  signs  whispered  to  the  Wolf 
as  he  hesitated,  '  Kill  him  !  He  is  yours.  He  set  the 
trap  that  robbed  you  of  your  foot.' 

"  Tlie  Wolf  growled  defiantly  and  crouched  beside  the 
bundle,  Avaiting  until  it  should  give  some  sign  of  life  to 
j>'ivo  tlie  rending  bite.  The  bundle  moved  and  raised 
itself,  fixing  its  eyes  upon  the  Wolf,  look  for  look  ! 

"  The  Wolf  glared,  but  saw  in  those  two  human  eyes 
a  light  that  never  is  in  the  eyes  of  beasts.     His  breath 


■( 


222 


FO  Uli  -FOOTED  A  ME  RICA  NS 


'f^; 


I 


blew  coldly  back  to  him,  lie  shivered,  for  in  his  heart 
he  was  a  coward.  He  longed  to  bite,  and  yet  he  did 
not  dare. 

"  The  sleeping  fire  ontside,  that  marked  the  camp, 
shot  ont  a  flaming  tongne.  Tlie  Wolf  started,  cronclied, 
fearing  to  pass  it.  Tiien  scenting  on  the  wind  tliat 
other  men  were  coming,  he  slunk  ont  and,  not  stoppino' 
to  read  the  signs,  seized  a  lnni[)  of  meat,  bolted  it,  and 
ran  until  he  readied  the  wood  edge. 

"The  tramp  of  many  feet  bent  the  ice  crust,  hurried 
words  came  from  tlie  camp,  mingled  with  the  cry  of 
Wolf !  and  the  crash  of  logs.  The  tire  lea[)ed  higli. 
Fire  also  burned  within  the  Wolf;  then  came  the  end 
—  the  scrap  of  meat  that  he  liad  swallowed  lield  tliu 
fine  white  earth  tliat  kills  ! "' 

«  ^  «  ^  9K 

"Oil  I  I  was  so  afraid  the  poor  man  would  he  eaten," 
said  Dodo,  with  a  sigh  of  satisfaction.  ''  Who  was  tliu 
man,  daddy?  —  for  there  must  have  really  lieen  a  man. 
or  the  skin  of  the  Wolf  with  one  foot  gone  wouldn't 
have  been  found." 

"  Was  it  yourself  ?  "  asked  Olive. 

vf^  ^  '1^  ^  ^ 

At  that  moment  a  scream  from  the  kitchen  turntil 
theii'  thoughts  in  another  direction,  so  they  hurried  out 
to  tind  the  cause. 

It  was  easily  seen.  Hilly  Coon,  who  had  escaped  un- 
noticed from  the  camp  while  the  Wcdf  story  was  in 
j)rogress,  in  attempting  to  iielp  himscdf  to  some  hrcinl 
dough  tliiit  Wiis  rising  by  the  lire,  hiid  fallen  into  llif 
soft  mass,  and  at  Mannny's  scream  (dimbcd  to  llic  tdp 
shelf  of  the  dresser,  where  he  sat,  streaming  dough. 


XVI 


COUSINS   OF   CATS 


lie  liiid  no  ih'imI  (o  liolilcii  liis  hclt  iiiid  n'o  lo  IkmI  to 
keep  wiU'iM.  To  Itc  sure,  lie  did  sl('e|i  ncjirlv  all  ihiy 
(•iiil('(l  111*  ill  tlie  liny  riu'k  over  Cumct's  slid!,  Wiikiui;' 
II])  lit'l'oro  diu'k  I'iicli  iiii^'ht  let  dt'visc  fivsli  misrliicr. 

The  Iced  and  outs  were  Ivcpl  in  Imis  id><>\('  llic  s(iil»l(\ 
coiiiiccti'd  l»y  i\  lony",  woodt-ii  slioul  witli  (lir  sliills  Ih»- 
liiw.     OiM'  ni^dit  l)illy  piilkMl  open   (lie  lilth!  si«»l   over 


224 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMllTtlCANS 


!l 


':) 


Comet's  manger,  and  when  Rod  arrived  in  the  morning 
lie  fonnd  the  trotter  staiulin»>'  in  a  pond  of  oats,  having 
eaten  so  mncli  that  he  hail  to  talve  a  (h)se  of  medicine 
and  iiave  his  stomach  rnhbed  with  a  broom  handle  to 
cure  his  colic.  For  the  stomach  of  a  horse  is  so  hiiilt 
that  when  colic  once  gets  inside  it  is  very  difficult  to 
get  it  out  again. 

Another  evening  liilly  escaped  unnoticed,  before  Rod 
closed  the  barn,  and  went  into  the  house  cellar.  Tiiere 
he  feasted  and  revelled  all  night,  only  to  frighten 
Mammy  Hun  nearly  out  of  her  wits,  when  she  went 
down  to  get  the  potatoes  to  bake  for  breakfast,  by  ani- 
bling  out  at  her,  (lri[)ping  with  molasses  from  the  ju<f 
which  lie  liad  overturned.  This  [)articular  evening  lie 
had  engaged  in  a  sliglit  difference  of  opinion  with 
<^uick  over  a  jthite  of  scrai)s,  and  so  kei)t  prudeiith 
.i[)on  tiie  ('am[)  rafters,  while  Quick  and  Mr.  Wolf 
eved  him  in  a  way  that  meant  trouble  for  his  riiiy- 
tailed   Furshiu. 


1> 


* 


Won't   you    please  ciioose  thi'  tliree  Cats  witii 


nil 


bod 


ICS 


aid    l)od(t    to   Olive,   whose   turn   it   w;is  ti 


select   tile  picture   lor  the  story. 

"  I  was  tiiinkingof  choosing  the  Cats,"  rei)lied  OUvf, 
'• 'I'liere  are  a  couple  mor(f  pictures  beside  those.  Ali, 
here  they  are  !  The  sjMttted  Ocelot,  lying  in  wail  in  a 
tree,  and  the  IMiniii,  hunlinu'  i^lk." 


Tliere   is  another  a   little   I'lirther  over, 


ai( 


1   I 


Jill 


"a  lean,  weaselly-looking  beast  with  a  thick  tail.  It  i- 
calle»l  Civel  Cat,  though  it  lias  ii  Fox  lace  andaCoim 
tail. 

"  You    may    take   out    the    pictures   with    the   otlici 


4 

i, 


COUSIXS   OF  CATS 


225 


e  morning 
its,  luiviiio' 
i  medic  1  lie 
liandle  to 
is  so  ))uilt 
ditiicult  to 

l)efore  Hod 
hir.     Tliei'L' 
to    frighten 
n  she  went 
last,  by  iHii- 
■om  tlie  ju*;' 
evening;'  \w 
pillion    \vitli 
,t  pi'udeiitly 
A   Mr.    Woit 
or  his   riu^- 


ats  with  110 
II   it  WHS  t(i 


fl 


those.     All. 
in  wait  in  a 


."  Miid   Kai 
•1;  tail,     h' 


t!iuiii4h  it  is  not  a  Cat  at  all,  hut  it  is  a  good  chance  to 
tell  von  wliy  it  is  not,"  said  the  Doctor. 

■•'IMiis  Northern  Civet  Cal,  or  Cacomistle  (Bush  Cat) 
iis  I  he  Wise  Men  call  it,  thongli  it  belongs  in  the  south- 
west  part   of  the  country,  has  niore  names  than  there 


Civirr  Cat 


lire  (lays  ni  the  week,  and  all  heeause  iii  ajjpearaui'e 
jiiil  kihits  it  is  a  sort  of  patchwork  resembling,  from 
(lil'IVrciil  |»oiiits  of  view.  Coon.  Fo\.  Cat.  and  S(,uirrel. 
"In  killing  Itirds  ami  rol)bi  ig  nests  it  t'ollows  the 
ilnusc  Cat.  and  like  it  prowls  at  night  and  makes  an 
the   otln'i^K    .iimising  |iet.      Its  body,  covered    with   Coon-grav  I'nr, 


226 


FO UR- FOOTED  A MEU ICA NS 


is  about  eighteen  iiielies  long  and  ends  in  sueli  a  tliit  k, 
ringed  tail,  that  yon  say  Coon  at  once,  and  it  does  he- 
h)ng  in  tlie  Raccoon  family,  and  is  tlie  very  least  cousin 
of  the  Hear,  in  spite  of  its  catlike  ears,  whiskers,  and 
slender,  litiie  body.  The  Civet  (-at  also  makes  its  honiu 
in  hollow  branches  or  stuni[)s  like  the  Coon,  and  as  it 
clind)s  and  dodges  about,  it  might  easily  be  taken  for  ;i 
wide-eared  S(juirrel,  exce[)t  for  its  tail.  You  see,  here 
is  anothei'  case  where  the  tail  tells 


f  " 


After  placing  the  pictures  carefully  in  a  row  below 
the  ma[),  animal  tree,  and  ladder  for  climbing  it,  the 
children  came  back  to  the  tire,  near  whicii,  on  the  set- 
tle. Dr.  Roy  had  thrown  three  skins  —  plain,  s[)otl('(l. 
and  streaked. 

'"How   many   si)ecies   of    Cats   are   there    in   Noiili 


America 


asked  Olive. 


*'  Nine  :  liv<^  with  higli  shoulders,  siiort  fur,  and  loiio' 
tails,  like  tiiose  of  their  c(msins  the  Lion,  Tiger,  and 
IIousi!  Cat,  and  four  of  the  l^ynx  variety,  witii  shoi-t  or 
bobtails,  long  Huffy  fur,  liigh  back   legs,  and  sharply 


I 


)0 


intcd 


I'ars. 


All  but  one  of  th(^  lono'-tailcd  varicti 


t'S 


belong  lo  (be  southwest,  being  much  more  at  home  in 
Central  and  tro[)ical  America  than  near  the  Cnitcil 
Stat(^s  boi'dei'.  Beginning  with  the  largest,  thcv  ;iiv 
called  tilt'  -lagnar,  the  Puma,  the  Ocelot,  the  Vagiiii- 
rnndi  Cat,  and  the  l\vra  Cat,  the  last  two  being  ((Hii- 
parativcly  unknown.  Tlie  I'uma  and  the  ( )celoi  ;iiv 
tlic  only  ones  tlial  conccM'ii  us. 

"•(>!'   the   four   boinail   Cats,   or    IiVn\es.   tbc   Caiiiuli: 


liVnx  belongs  to  the  noi'tli. 


Til 


spotted 


and 


IM; 


llt'iii 


liyiix  belong  to  tbc  southwest,  leaving  us  in  the  mid- 
dle und  southeast  states  tlu!  Bay  Lynx,  or  Wildcat.ih 


COUSINS   OF  CATS 


227 


h  a  tliu  k, 
t  d(ies  be- 
ast consin 
skers,  and 
s  its  lioiue 
1,  aiul  as  it 
aken  i'ov  a 
u  see,  lievc 

row  Ih'Iow 
)ing  it,  till' 

on  tbe  set- 
lin,  spotted, 

e    ill   Xorlli 

\v,  and  long 
Ti^jfer,  and 
itli  slioi't  (ir 
md  sharply 
lied  varietios 
at  lionu'  in 
the   Unitod 
'St,  they  an' 
tlu'   Ya|4u;i- 
l)t'ing  coin- 
.   Octdot   ;\iv 

tlu"  Caiiad.; 
Ian. I    riatrau 
in  ihi'  mid- 
Wildcat.  11^ 


he  is  everywhere  called.  They  all  have  four  toes  on 
the  hind  feet  and  five  on  the  front,  and  their  tongues 
are  covered  with  haekward-pointed  prickles." 

''  There  are  long-tailed  Wildcats  in  our  woods  ! 
!{(((!  says  so,  and  I  saw  them,  for  they  come  down  to 
the  harnyard  to  get  swill,  and  they  took  some  of  the 
s([ual)s  from  the  pigeon  house,"  said  Nat.  "  They  are 
dark  l)rown  and  black  stri[)ed,  and  have  fat,  bunchy 
cheeks,  and  crawl  low  down  in  the  grass,  us  if  they  tried 
to  ]ii(k'." 

''You  are  both  rigiit  and  wrong,"  laughed  Doctor  Roy. 
'''idiese  cats  are  wild  in  one  sense,  because  they  live  in 
the  woods,  hunt  for  a  living,  and  are  tierce  and  shy  ;  but 
tliev  are  the  children  of  Uiww  iiouse  or  barn  cats  and 
no  more  like  the  real  L^/nc  rufna,  than  we  should  be 
like  Indians  if  we  went  to  t*ie  v.'oods,  dressed  in  moc- 
casins and  blankets,  iind  painted  our  faces. 

"  In  speaking  of  the  l{ab!)>ts,  I  think  I  told  you  how 
much  hel()  the  length  and  shape  of  tludr  tails  give  in 
naming  them." 

"Yes.  I  remember,"  said  Ivaj)  i  "tlic  Jack  had  the 
loii^'est  tail,  and  tlie  Wood  Hare  -i  iunied-up  cotton 
tail,  and  tiie  V\]'\i  not  mucdi  of  a  tail  .it  all." 

'•It  is  till  sanici  with  members  of  the  eat  family. 
The  tail  will  give  you  a  clew  to  the  fanuly,  for  as  all 
these  North  AnuM'ican  (^its  are  more  ])rone  to  run  away 
than  to  face  you,  tiie  tail  \'  ill  be  mon^  familiar  than  the 
lace,  s(i  if  you  see  a  W'ldcat  with  a  bobtail,  ym  will 
know  him  for  tlie  real  kind. 

''Having  (dios(m  three  from  this  group  of  ten  cats, 
let  us  hKd<  at  them.  Two  (d'  the  three  —  the  I'umaand 
\Vildc;ii — once  ranged  (»ver  a  considerable  part  of  the 


228 


FO  UR-FOOTED  A  ME  RICA  NS 


United  States,  touching  even  the  northern  Ijorder,  wliile 
the  Ocelot  always  kept  well  to  the  soutli,  having  once 
been  fonncl    in  Arkansas   and   Lonisiana,  but    now   in 
our  limits  has  retreated  to  or  beyond  the  Rio  (iriuido. 
Tlie  Oeelot  is  a  spotted  ])eauty,  plueky,  and  a  real  gainc 
animal,  with  his  skin  as  varicolored  and   briglit  as  a 
Leopard's,   one    of    our  few   richly  colored   Mannnals. 
He  is  also,  as  it  says  on  this  picture,  a  's[»otted  disas- 
ter'  to  birds  and    smaller   beasts   wlio  venture   in  or 
under  the  tree  Avhere  he  chooses  a  branch  f(n'  a  divan 
whereon  to  take  his  noontime  nsst.     Mottles  of   light 
and  shadow  playing  upon  the  tree  bark  and  ncstlin^r 
in  the  moving  leaves,  help  liide  his  ten   shaij)  clav.s 
sheatlied   between    elastii;   foot-})ads.       liis    four  cri.*'! 
dog  teeth,  covered  b\  the  tightly  shut  wliiskered  lips. 
tell  no  tales  of  the  bristle-covered  tongue  wiliiiii,  that 
licks  and  licks  the   skin   of  its   prey,  until    it    is  tiled 
away,  and  the  bleeding  Hesh  made  ready  for  the  meal. 

'When  he   hunts   by  stalking,  lie   primers  the  darkl 
iiours,  liis  eyes    shining   like   lanterns.      In   truth,  tlic 
Ocelot  wears  a  coat  of  many  colors,  in  whicli  oraiiocj 
brown,  and  yellow  blend  and  mingle  as  a  groun(l\V(iii;| 
for  lawny,  Idack-edged  si)()ts,  stripes  and  streaks  wliiili 
c.<vi'r  tw(t  and  a  iialf  feet  of  body  and  lifleen  inches dl 
tail.      In  habits,  he  is  more  of  a  tree  ciit  than  the  (ithi'is; 
he  too,  like  them,  is  no  ciin'ion  cater,  only  feeding  npnii 
prey  that  1  v  !';i(v'}i  's  jiinisclf.      Sec  the  eroiiching  li,<,niif 
with  ears  wvll   Uj),  bacl     UA   braecfl.  and   tail   hisliiii;,',| 
It  is  in  the  »  \act    position   of  a    House  Ciil  watchiiii,'' a 
Mouse.       In    a    Ukoment,    if    the    birds   pass    unthr  tli 
tree,   there   will    be  a  spring,  a   Ibittei',  and   a   mass  ij 
fealiiers  borne  to  the  ground,  and  a  meal  for  the  Ocdull 


Ijorder,  wliile 

having  once 

but    iH)\\   in 

Uio  (iriuide. 

1  a  real  g:unt' 

[   \)i-ii^lit  as  a 

'd   ^lainnmls. 

spotted  disas- 

venture   in  or 

h  for  a  di Villi 

lilies  ol"   liK'lit 

iuid  lU'stliiiff 

1    sharp   rhovs 

lis    four   liiiPl 

k'hiskered  lips. 

le  wilhiu,  tlml 

itil   it    is  lik'tl 

for  the  nu'iil. 


'tVri 


11 


It'  tlaii' 


lu   Irulli,  till 
whicl 


I  ()raii<'V, 


a  u'r<)Uiul\V(iiii| 
streaks  whuli 

It'H'cu  iuclii'siil 
ill  I  the  ollii'is; 


V    IctMllU!: 


nimii 


'flllH 


•ouclniin'  Hi; 
.1   tail   lashiii': 
'at  wiiU'liiiiiT 
ass   un<ltr  tl 
aud   a   iiM^>  ' 


lo 


lllu'O. 


fh'i. 


^\ 


II 


WW 


til 
leii 
ni(: 
crc 

W'l 

the 

(( 

]ieii 

fllV( 

kiiK 
and 
like 

Dr. 

drau 

that  I 

size. 

Cat, 

selve 

the 

and 

ear 

ada 

bjt 

Cat 
I>ni'i-s 
slecj) 
it  sliii 
pet  ()] 
in  ill! 


t-f 


COUSINS  OF  CATS 


229 


"In  spite  of  its  climbing  pi'opensi- 
tii'S,  the  Ocelot  is  a  swift  rnnncr,  and 
leads  the  dogs,  with  whom  it  was  for- 
merly always  hunted,  a  Avild  chase, 
crossing  and  doubling  among  the  water- 
ways of  its  haunts  in  a  manner  to  throw 
the  keenest  hound  off  the  scent." 

''  Now  my  three  grinning 
heads,"  said  Dodo,  gazing  at  her 
favorite  picture  ;  "are  they  three 
kinds  of  cats,  or  a  mother,  father, 
and  child?  I  think  they  look 
like  a  family." 

"  Three  different  species,"  said 
Dr.   Roy;    "and   the   heads   are 
drawn    in    exact    proportion,   so 
that  you   may    judge    of    their 
size.     The  smallest  is  the  House 
Cat,   an  emigrant  like   our- 
selves.    The  next  in  size  is 
the  Wildcat,  or  Bay   Lynx, 
and  tlie  largest  with  the  hairy 
ear  tufts  is  the  savage  Can- 
ada Lynx,  called  Loup  Cervier 
by  the  early  travellers. 

"  You  all  know  the  House 
Cat  and  its  liiil)ils  :  liow  it 
purrs  Avlicn  it  is  going  to 
sleep  or  feels  pleased  ;  how 
it  sharpens  its  claws  on  car- 
pet or  wood,  drawing  them 
in  and   out    at    will;    how 


House  Cat. 


WlLPfAT. 


Canada  Lynx. 


!'  it  IS, 


230 


FO  Uli-FOO  TED  A  ME  III  CANS 


II  ^! 


rough  its  tongue  is  when  it  licks  your  finger.  You 
have  seen  its  eyes  shine  in  the  dark,  au'l  ]iOw  the  pupil 
(the  little  dark  spot  in  the  centre  tluio  lets  in  tlie 
light  to  make  it  see)  can  be  made  large  or  small.  You 
have  watched  it  steal  along  softly  on  its  hunting  trips 
as  cautiously  as  a  man,  and  you  have  seen  it  give  a 
mouse  or  bird  the  fatal  blow  with  its  heavy  paw,  that 
both  stuns  and  holds  like  a  trap.  It  is  a  cat's  skill  as  a 
bird  hunter  that  made  me  banish  it  years  ago  from  tlie 
farm,  for  a  terrier  will  keep  the  rats  and  mice  in  order 
quite  as  well. 

"  You  also  know,  or  at  least  I  am  sure  that  Olive 
does,  how  a  cat  steals  away  to  find  some  very  private 
place  for  a  nest  for  her  little  blind  kittens,  and  hoiv 
much  pride  she  takes  in  cuddling  them  in  her  arms  and 
suckling  them  until  they  can  lap  milk  or  catch  mice  for 
themselves." 

"  Indeed  I  do,  for  a  cat  once  made  a  nest  on  a  shelf 
in  a  box  where  I  kept  my  best  hat  all  trimmed  with  | 
ostrich  feathers  and  velvet !  "  said  Olive. 

"  Our  Wildcats  seek  out  the  most  inaccessible  place?  | 
in  rock  ledges  and  tree  hollows  as  homes  for  their  kit- 
tens.    When  I  was  a  boy  I  found  a  Wildcat's  nest  in  I 
an  old  chestnut  log,  in  the  wood  by  the  grazing  pasture 
at  the  other  side  of  the  farm.     No,  you  need  not  lool| 
worried.  Dodo,  there  are  none  about  now ! 

"  It  was  the  early  part  of  May,  and  a  party  of  us  h 
gone  out  to  look  for  arbutus,  whic!i  made  masses  oil 
fragrant  pink  among  the  dead  leaves.     People  all  ahoiit[ 
had  been  complaining  of  the  Foxes  and  saying  that  they 
were  very  bold,  visiting  some  farm  every  night  anil  yet 
leaving  no  tracks.     We  lost  chickens  and  ducks,  quite] 


COUSINS  OF  CATS 


231 


a  o^ood-sized  little  pig,  and  finally  a  pair  of  tame  white, 
pink-eyed  rabbits  that  were  my  special  pride. 

"  In  going  flower  hunting  this  day  1  strayed  away 
from  the  others  to  look  for  tiie  thousand  and  one  tilings 
that  always  made  the  woods  a  fairy  picture  book  to  me. 
I  sliould  not  have  been  surprised  to  have  found  the  en- 
trance to  tlie  palace  of  the  sleeping  beauty  between  the 
rocks,  but  instead  of  J^eauty  I  found  a  lieast  I  " 

"Oh,  uncle,  you  are  joking;  all  those  wore  dream  sto- 
ries that  never  really  happened,"  said  J         .  solemnly. 

"I  said  a  Beast,  not  the  Beast,  and  it  Imppened  in 
this  way.  I  was  resting  on  the  edge  of  a  moss-covered 
rock  under  the  edge  of  which  lay  the  trunk  of  an  enor- 
mous chestnut  that  had  been  blown  over  and  gone  mostly 
to  decay.  As  I  swung  my  heels  down  and  kicked  this 
trunk,  three  little  furry  heads  appeared  at  the  hollow 
in  the  end.  I  took  them  for  the  kittens  of  some  stray 
cat,  and  stooping  over  tried  to  catch  one,  but  they  gave 
a  cry  in  concert,  something  between  a  spit  and  a  yowl, 
and  disappeared  in  the  tree.  Then  I  noticed  that  the 
mossy  ground  by  the  stump  was  dug  up  and  there  was 
the  partly  covered  remains  of  one  of  my  rabbits  I 

"  Before  I  could  think  or  put  two  and  two  together, 
I  lieard  the  snapping  of  some  twigs  behind  me  on  the 
rocks,  and  as  I  turned  a  most  weird  and  unpleasant 
'meau-11-11'  greeted  me,  and  there  stood  a  Wildcat,  ears 
back,  jaws  snarling,  its  long  legs  braced  for  a  spring  I  I 
(U<1  not  know  tluit  tlie  American  members'of  this  family 
will  not,  any  more  than  Wolves,  attack  man  unless 
driven  to  bay,  that  they  never  hunt  in  packs,  or  that 
the  cat  was  fully  as  much  frightened  as  I  was,  and  that 
she  had  merely  returned  homo  in  a  hurry  in  answer  to 


v^< 


^ 

^^^. 


* 


^. 


^.v^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


bill 

US 

mm 


H^   L°    12.0 


|22 

mi  < 

UUtI 


HiotDgraFiiic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WHT  MAIN  STRUT 
WIHTM.N.Y.  I4SM 

(716)  iza-oos 


i 

'  ' 

232 


FOUli-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


the  call  of  her  kittens.  I  saw  only  a  strange  monster 
spitting  fire,  ready  to  spring  at  me,  and  imagined  I 
heard  the  cries  of  a  hundred  more  in  the  trees.  Under 
these  circumstances  it  was  not  strange  that  I  ran  back 
to  my  companions,  with  such  a  tale  of  horror  that  the 
whole  party  hurried  home  as  fast  as  possible  to  spread 
the  news,  not  daring  to  look  behind  them,  and  spilling 
arbutus  blossoms  like  a  paper  cliase  trail  over  tiiree 
miles  of  road. 

"  Our  parents  wisely  decided  that  I  must  have  seen 
one  Wildcat,  if  not  a  whole  army,  and  concluding  that 
the  missing  poultry  could  only  have  been  taken  by  a 
beast  that  climbed,  organized  a  hunting  party  composed 
of  six  mixed  dogs,  who  understood  the  Coon  trade,  live 
men  and  as  many  rifles,  while  I  was  allowed  to  follow. 
The  mother  Cat  was  easily  treed  and  quickly  shot  ow- 
ing to  her  unwillingness  to  leave  the  neighborhood  of 
her  log  house.  I  had  begged  for  the  kittens  to  tame 
for  pots,  so  they  were  poked  out  of  the  log  and  put  in 
a  bag. 

"All  of  a  sudden,  as  we  turned  toward  a  path  to 
leave  the  wood  by  a  different  way,  our  old  hound  Trum- 
peter put  his  nose  to  the  ground  and  started  off  like  a 
shot,  the  less  well-bred  pack  following  at  his  heels. 

" '  Go  home  with  your  bag  of  kittens,'  said  my  father. 
in  a  tone  tluit  brooked  no  argument,  as  he  dashed  after 
the  dogs.  Tliougli  it  was  a  lonely  walk,  tlie  bag  was 
heavy,  and  tl»e  kittens  chiwed  and  (piarruUed,  there 
was  nothing  for  me  to  do  but  go. 

"  Sundown  came,  no  father ;  tlie  moon  rose,  and  tlie 
wives  of  the  four  other  hunters  gathered  at  our  house, 
and  sat  solemnly  in  tiie  sitting-room  (now  my  wonder 


m\ 


rjinge  monster 
lid  imagined  I 
trees.  Under 
lat  I  ran  back 
liorror  that  tlie 
3ible  to  spread 
m,  and  spilling 
rail  over  three 

nust  have  seen 
joncluding  tliiit 
een  taken  by  a 
party  composed 
[I!oon  trade,  iive 
3wed  to  follow, 
uickly  shot  ow- 
leighborhood  of 
cittens  to  tame 
og  and  put  in 

v^ard  a  path  to 
d  hound  Truni- 
irted  off  like  ii 
t  his  heels, 
said  my  father. 

je  dashed  after 
k,  the  bag  was 

arrelled,  tlierc 

rose,  and  tin' 
ll  at  our  IvMjst". 
h\y  my  wonder 


COUSINS  OF  CATS 


233 


room),  where,  Dodo,  your  mother,  then  a  small  baby, 
was  asleep  in  her  cradle.  At  ten  o'clock  they  went  to 
their  homes,  while  I  peeped  at  them  from  the  hall 
window,  and  finally  went  to  bed,  dreaming  of  Wolves, 
Indians,  and  Lions. 

"About  half-past  seven  the  next  morning  the  party 
I  returned,  father  carrying  Trumpeter  over  his  shoulder, 
jaiul  our  neighbors  the  pair  of  Wildcats.     They  had 
followed  the  trail  upon  which  our  hound  had  started 
nearly  all  night,  in  and  out  of  brush,  marsh,  and  wood. 
When  the  mah-i  cat  was  linally  brought  to  bay.  Trum- 
peter, not  distinguishing  between  this  savage  beast  and 
I  the  usual  Coon,  had  attacked  him,  only  to  be  painfully 
j  wounded,  and  then  a  bullet  had  killed  the  second  of 
jthis  pair  of  robbers. 

"  I  can  remember  now  exactly  how  the  Wildcat 
j  looked,  as  it  lay  on  the  door  stone,  for  they  gave  the 
female  to  mo  because  1  first  saw  it.  It  was  nearly 
three  feet  long  from  nose  to  root  of  tail,  which  was, 
perhaps,  a  little  over  six  inches.  It  had  a  round  head 
and  large  pointed  ears,  from  which  the  long  winter 
hairs  were  not  completely  shed.  Its  long  body  was 
covered  with  brindled,  barred,  and  mottled  fur,  of  liglit 
and  dark  brown,  rusty  and  gray.  Its  legs  and  feet 
[seenuMl  long  ami  large  compared  to  its  lean  nuiscular 
hody.  My  father  kept  the  skin  of  this  cat  and  tanned 
|it.  imd,  (dd  and  worn,  there  it  is  now  on  the  setth;  !  " 

"()iily  tliiidv,"  said    Nat,   as   the   children    began    to 
lliandle  tiu^  pelt  and  stroke  it  eagerly,  "this  old  skin 
jonoe  lived  in  our  woods  and   friglitened  rnelc  Hoy  !  " 
''Did  Trumpeter  get  well,  and  what  became  of  the 
I  kittens?"  asked  Dudo. 


i  ■  n 


\'V\ 


1 


■*1 


i 


f 


1;'!^ 


!.! 


234 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"Trumpeter  was  bandaged  up  and  cured  after  a 
while,  but  it  was  months  before  he  would  go  near  the 
cat  skin,  which  lay  on  the  back  of  the  parlor  sofa. 
The  kittens  soon  grew  very  sly  and  vicious,  and  fatlier 
gave  tliem  to  a  travelling  showman  who  came  to  East 
Village."  V 

"  Where  do  Wildcats  live  now  ?  "  asked  Uap. 

"  They  are  scattered  quite  evenly  over  the  wilder  parts 
of  the  middle  country  from  the  south  up,  haunting 
places  where  small  Mammals  or  game  birds  can  be  liad, 
but  they  are  nowhere  common  enough  to  cause  trouble.'" 

"Now  the  nicest  cat  picture  of  all,"  said  Rap,  "the 
Puma  and  the  Elk.  The  Puma  doesn't  look  much  like 
a  Cat  —  is  more  like  the  postmaster's  old  lean  mastiff." 

"  You  make  a  good  comparison  there,  my  boy,"  said 
the  Doctor  ;  "  except  that  it  has  shorter  legs  and  larger 
feet,  and  a  tuft  on  the  end  of  its  tail,  this  Puma  is  verv 
much  the  same  size  and  color  as  that  dog. 

"  Imagine  an  animal  like  old  Max  weighing  from  W I 
to  200  pounds,  with  the  spring  and  strength  of  a  bundle 
of  steel  springs,  feet  heavy  enough  to  fell  a  man  with  a 
blow,  and  armed  with  the  most  powerful  movable  claws,  | 
Having  more  leaping  agility  than  any  American  four- 
foot,  clearing  twenty  feet  easily  on  a  level,  and  in 
downward  leap  able  to  cover  sixty  feet,  and  you  will  I 
have  a  picture  of  the  Puma,  as  tlie  Wise  Men  [)refertii| 
call  him,  though  he  is  known  in  different  parts  of  tlif 
country  as  Panther,  Mimntain  Lion,  and  (^)Ugar.     Tliel 
Puma  varies  very  much  in  size,  those  found  in  tlic  sontlij 
being  larger  than  their  northerly  brothers." 

"  Why  is  tliat  ?  "  asked  Rap.  "  Among  Wolves  tkl 
northerly  ones  were  tlie  biggest." 


;ured  after  a 
I  go  near  the 
)  parlor  sofii. 
IS,  and  father 
came  to  East 

I  Rap. 

he  wilder  parts 
up,  haunting 
■ds  can  be  had, 
jause  trouble.'" 
jaid  Rap,  "the 
look  much  like 
.  lean  mastiff. ' 
,  my  boy,"  saul 
legs  and  larger 
s  Puma  is  very 


•hing  from  150 
gth  of  a  bundle 
11  a  man  with  a 
movable  claws, 
A.merican  four- 1 
level,  and  in  ii| 
t,  and  you  wi 
B  Men  prefer  till 
n\i  parts  of  tlie 
(\)Ugar.     'Hie 
id  in  the  sontli| 

rs. 

)ng  Wolves  tkl 


I  .     i 


■  !i^j 


Puma  huntinu  Klk. 


-It 


COUSINS   OF  CATS 


235 


"The  dog  family  likes  a  cool  climate  and  the  cats 
[prefer  a  warm  one.  Even  though  the  Puma  is  hardy, 
and  can  live  in  all  climates,  one  of  the  Wise  Men  says 
that  an  animal  always  grows  the  largest  in  the  climate 
1  that  best  suits  him. 

"  The  Puma  sharpens  its  claws  on  the  bark  of  trees 
lor  the  earth,  and  purrs  when  pleased ;  both  these 
instincts  are  found  in  his  tame  cousin,  the  House  Cat, 
who  [)rovokes  her  owners  often  by  scratching  the  carpet. 
Their  fur  changes  color  somewhat  according  to  season, 
land  the  young  wear  mottled  coats  at  first,  like  young 
IDeer." 

I  suppose   he   only  lives   in   very   far-away    wild 
Dlaces,"  said  Rap. 

"Now  his  haunts  are  almost  altogether  confined  to 
the  rocky  and  wooded  parts  of  the  west  and  southwest ; 
tl)iit  not  so  many  years  ago  he  ranged  within  a  few 
[miles  of  the  eastern  coast  and  was  plentiful  in  the 
idirondacks,  in  places  where  people  now  have  camps 
md  cottages, 

"The  Puma  is  feared  by  all  other  beasts  except  a 
[liear  or  a  Deer  with  fully  grown  antlers,  for  it  both  at- 
tacks the  throat  and  gives  killing  blows  with  its  heavy 
y,\\\H.  But  the  Puma  keeps  to  the  wildest  places  and 
ivhere  it  was  plentiful  the  Wildcat  was  usually  rare." 
"  If  they  lived  in  such  lonely  places,  how  did  they 
tionio  to  be  killed  out?"  asked  Olive. 

"  liocauHc,  wherever  they  were  seen,  they  frightened 
benple  so  much  that  they  were  killed  whenever  [>ossible. 
riieii  they  had  but  two,  or  at  most  four,  little  ones  in 
Iheir  rocky  lair  every  other  year,  and  these  took  two  or 
jhree  years  to  become  fully  grown,  so  the  race  increased 


m 


III 


'ill-        in,!'' 

Ipi  'I 


\i'U  u 


236 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


ver}''  slowly.  The  only  wonder  is  that  there  are  sol 
many  left,  for  they  are  not  long-lived  animals,  seldom  | 
living  more  than  fifteen  years." 

"  Didn't  they  eat  a  great  many  people  ?  "  asked  Dodo.  I 
"  No,  like  the  Wolves  they  dread  firearms  and  seldom 
or  never  attack  man  in  spite  of  all  the  wonderful  stories 
you  will  hear  to  the  contrary.  The  greatest  harm  thej 
did  was  to  kill  food  animals  upon  which  man  depended. 
Deer,  young  Elk,  and  also  calves,  they  destroyed  easily, 
as  well  as  sheep  and  pigs,  and  they  have  been  known 
to  capture,  kill,  and  drag  away  to  a  private  feeding  spot 
a  beast  almost  twice  their  own  size.  The  Puma  has  one 
good  quality,  — it  is  not  a  wasteful  feeder,  never  taking  | 
new  prey  while  it  has  a  supply  of  food  on  hand. 

"  It  is  as  a  hunter  that  the  Puma  shows  the  most  in- 
telligence.    He  is  a  fair  hunter,  watching  signs,  wait- 
ing until  he  can  get  to   windward  of   his  prey,  then  I 
creeping  slowly  upon  it  and  preparing  for  the  spring, 
as  the  human  hunter  stalks  and  waits  for  the  right 
moment  to  shoot.      It  is  upon  his  wonderful  leap  that! 
the  Puma  depends  for  his  success  ;  he  is  too  heavy  ofl 
paw  and  too  short  of  breath  to  be  a  fast  runner.    M 
may  trust  to  one,  two,  or  three  springs  to  catch  up  witli 
his   flying   prey,  then  if   he   does   not  overtake  it  hel 
does  not  follow  it  further.     It  is  this   lack   of  speedl 
which  allows  dogs  and  men  afoot  to  drive  him  to  cover.l 
though  of  course  lie  has  the  advantage  of  being  ablctol 
cross  chasms  on  logs  and  to  descend  steeps  by  mean.s 
trees.      Young  Deer  are  [)erhaps   the   Puma's  favoritfj 
food,  though  he  does  not  despise  any  animal  food,  audi 
often   makes  a  meal   of   that  four-legged    cactus,  tlii 
Porcupine.      Do  you   remember  how  Wolves  trapped 


i  f 


COUSINS  OF  CATS 


237 


the  Deer,  one  chasing  it  in  a  circle  while  the  other  lay 
hidden  in  the  runway  to  pull  it  down  as  it  passed  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  we  all  do  ! "  chorused  the  children. 

'•  The  Puma  hunts  singly  more  than  in  couples,  so 
instead  of  driving  the  Deer  or  Elk  (it  never  tries  a  fully 
grown  Moose)  it  notes  the  runway  and  waits  for  the  Deer 
to  p«^ss  the  spot  where  it  is  crouching.  A  successful 
spring  will  land  the  Puma  on  the  haunches  of  his  vic- 
tim, where  lie  fastens  his  claws  until  he  oan  give  the 
killing  throat  bite.  But  oftentimes  the  Deer  starts 
quickly  and  the  Puma  is  '  too  late,'  and  the  Elk  escapes, 
like  those  in  the  picture. 

"  In  snow  time  alone,  the  Puma  seems  to  hunt  by 
chasing  as  well  as  by  the  stalk  and  leap.  He  can 
spread  his  broad  paws  so  as  to  make  snow-shoes  of  them, 
keeping  on  the  surface  while  the  small,  sharp  hoofs  of 
the  Deer  cause  them  to  sink.  In  this  again  he  hunts 
like  some  sportsmen,  who  take  a  mean  advantage  of  the 
heavy  Moose  and  Elk  ploughing  wearily  through  deep 
snow,  to  follow  them  on  snow-shoes  without  having  the 
Puma's  rightful  excuse  of  hunger." 

'{'he  children   laid  the   Ocelot,   Wildcat,  and  Punflr 
skins  on  the  floor,  comparing  and  talking  about  tluj;, 
while  ( )live  went  for  the  crackers  to  toast. 

Finally  Dodo  folded  her  arms,  looked  up  with  a  sigh, 

jiiiid  said  solemnly,  "Even  if  Pumas  do  not  eat  people, 

Tin  very  much  relieved  to  know  that  they  have  re- 

j  treated  a  long  way  inland,"  being  perfectly  unconscious 

that  she  was  imitating  Dr.  Roy's  speech  and  deliberate 

nianner,  and   not   understanding  why  he   laughed   so 

lioartily  that  his  "near  to"  eye-glasses  bounced   into 

the  lire. 


i   .  13 


XVII 


THREE   IIAKDY   MOUNTAINEERS 


".> 


A.Y  I  choose  that  deer  with 
the  smoke  coming  out  of 
his  nose  ?  "  said  Dodo  to 
Rap,  as  lie  was  turning 
over  the  pictures  the  next 


Saturday     evening.      'M 


I 

don't  understand  one  bit 
ahout  the  different  honiK. 
—  the  cow's  that  stay  on 
and  the  Deer's  liorns  that  fall  off." 

"  Doctor  Hoy  says  we  must  ask  Nez  for  the  story  tn 
that  picture.  1  am  looking  to  see  if  I  cfin  find  uny 
cousins  of  the  farm  animals;  it  seems  as  if  there  nnist 
be  some.  Yes,  here  are  two,  —  a  Sheep  with  monstrous 
horns  and  a  white  (ioat !  " 

''  Oh,  uncle  !  daddy  I  "  called  Dodo,  "  we  have  found 
wild  relations  of  Nanny  Baa  and  ("orney  I  " 

"  Yes,"  added  Hap,  "and  beside  in  the  Sheep  pietuie 
there  is  liilly  (boon's  cousin,  a  great  fat  Bear." 

"So  you  have  come  to  three  of  our  famous  'big 
game '  fourfoots  in  a  bmich,"  said  Mr.  Blake,  "  and  I 
suppose  you  want  me  to  take  you  hunting  to-niglit. 
Very  well,  we  will  go,  oidy  you   nuist  put  on  stout 

238 


'•t 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


239 


we  have  fi)uiiil 


clotlies,  thick,  easy  shoes,  or  moccasins,  bring  a  pair  of 
skees  apiece,  and  be  prepared  for  climbing  up  hill  for 
miles  and  sleeping  out  doors  many  niglits." 
"  What  are  skees  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"Tliey  are  foot  gear  ;  an  Old- World  invention,  half 
skate,  half  snow-shoe,  like  a  pair  of  small  foot-tobog- 
gaiis,  that  Rocky  Mountain  hunters  use  in  icy  weather." 
"Then  these  *big  game'  animals  live  'way  out  west 
ill  the  Rocky  Mountains  !  I  know  those  mountains," 
said  Dodo;  "they  hump  up  all  the  way  from  Alaska 
tlowii  to  Mexico.  But  people  need  not  walk  ;  couldn't 
tliey  go  there  by  train,  daddy  ?  " 

"  Yon  can  go  for  a  week  or  more  by  train.     Then  at 

[the  end  of  a  week  of  horseback   riding  and  walking 

mixed,  you  will  be  lucky  if  you  see  the  plump,  round 

l)0(ly,  and  the  great  curved  horns  that  give  the  name 

of  Bighorn  to  this  Mountain  Sheep,  the  shyest  of  all 

lour  fourfoots. 

"Some  day,  if  I  do  not  grow  too  old  and  stiff,  and 
jit"  the  wasteful  Wolf  Hunters  have  not  dragged  dyna- 
mite guns  up  the  mountains  and  bombarded  them  all 
^)ut,  1  hope  to  take  Nat  to  see  this  Bighorn  and  the 
fountain  Goat  at  home.  For  to-night  you  must  be 
[•onteut  with  a  story." 

"The  big  Hear,  does  he  live  as  far  up  and  away  as 
the  others  ?  " 

'"lie  lives  in  and  also  below  their  ranges,  but  nowa- 
llays  one  must  usually  look  much  further  for  a  (Jrizzly, 
kuch  as  the  one  who  is  peering  at  the  IJighorn  in  the 
|)icture,  than  for  either  the  Sheep  or  (Joats.  The 
[h'izzly  is  a  flesh  eater,  with  an  enormous  appetite  for 
[verything  else  eatable  —  frt)m  wild  berries  to  honey- 


Ilil 


m 


240 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


comb.  He  is  sometimes  tempted  to  come  near  furins. 
camps,  aiul  houses,  to  pick  up  dainty  titbits,  wliile  tlic 
Sheep  and  (xoats,  being  hollow-horned  cud-chewors. 
belonging  to  the  meat  family,  like  the  Jiison,  are  not 
often  tempted  from  their  lofty  grazing  grounds ;  but 
his  foot  leaves  no  sound  and  he  comes  and  goes  unseen. 

"  In  the  great  National  Park  of  the  Yellowstone 
River,  where  the  Government,  hsj  offering  protection, 
is  trying  to  coax  the  '  big  game '  to  make  itself  into  i 
Zoological  (xarden,  —  there  is  a  hotel  where  people  I 
may  stay  who  wish  to  see  the  wonders  of  the  country 
without  too  much  trouble.  The  waste  food  and  refuse  I 
of  this  house  is  carried  to  a  heap  not  far  away." 

"  A  swill  heap,  you  mean,  don't  you,  daddy  ?  "  asked 
Dodo.      "  I    shouldn't    think   the   Government   would 
allow  a  swill  heap  in  a  Park.     Uncle  won't  have  one  I 
on  the  farm  ;    he  says  '  tliey  are   perfectly  barbarous 
things,  that  make  pestilence  and  flies,'  so  the  pigs  have] 
the  clean  scraps  and  everything  else  is  buried  !  " 

"You  are  right  there,"  laughed  Mr.  Blake,  "and it | 
is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  odor  of  this  swil 
heap,  attractive  at  least  from  their  point  of  view,  tliatj 
lures  the   l^ears,  both   Black  and  Grizzly,  from  tlieii 
rocky  dens  to  come  and  feast  within  eye-shot  of  Housj 
People." 

"  Then  1  should  think  the  people  could  shoot  them, 
said  Nat. 

"  No  guns  are  allowed  in  tlie  Park,  that  is  one  reasoiij 
why  the  Bears  are  so  fearless." 

"  But   I  should  think  the   Bears  and  Panthers  ai 
little  nuisance  animals  would  grow  to  be  too  many,  aiiil| 
eat  up  the  Deer  and  other  fourfoots." 


;     i 


Id  shoot  tliem." 

,at  is  one  reasoiij 

I   raiitlieis  aiKll 
e  too  many,  ami 


Gkizzly  Bkar  and  Jjighoijn  Sheep. 


■II  1 


eit 

11)0 

mil 
{'iiii 


ililS 

iiic 

rito 

Ilfii 


IMM 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


241 


"They  may  in  time,  but  the  idea,  1  believe,  is  to  trap 
tliu  hxrger  beasts  if  tliey  increase  too  freely  and  send 
tlieni  to  Zoiilogieal  Gardens  where  people  may  see 
them." 

"  How  long  do  wild  animals  live  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"That  depends  upon  the  sjjecies.  House  Cats  and 
Dogs,  you  know,  are  considered  quite  old  at  twelve,  and 
seldom  live  longer  than  fifteen  years.  Horses  will 
average  twenty-iive,  while  on  the  otlier  hand  Squirrels 
and  Uabbits  are  old  at  seven  or  eight." 

"  How  long  do  Hears  live  ?  " 

"  [*erhaps  twenty  or  twenty-five  years,  but  it  is  very 
diftieult  to  judge  about  wild  animals.  It  is  impossible 
to  keep  track  of  them  out  of  doors.  In  confinement 
they  are  seldom  perfectly  healthy,  and  so  do  not  live 
out  tlieir  natural  lives.  In  fact,  among  these  flesh-eating 
four-foots,  every  one  eats  some  one  else,  and  it  is  prob- 
al)lo  that  very  few  live  to  die  of  old  age." 

"Do  Grizzly  Hears  and  Bighorns  and  Goats  live  no- 
where but  in  the  Rockies  ?  " 

"Grizzlies  were  once  found  in  all  the  mountains  and 
footliills  of  the  west  from  Mexico  north  to  the  Harron 
(irounds.  They  did  not  always  stay  in  tlie  mountains 
either,  but  came  across  open  country,  poking  tlieir  noses 
most  unpleasantly  into  the  affairs  of  ])rairie  travelh'rs, 
and  carrying  consternation  into  tlie  very  glare  of  the 
oaniplire. 

"Now  'old  Ki)hraim,'  as  the  (iriz/.ly  is  ni('kname(l, 
lias  lu'cn  driven  from  his  hkm'c  southerly  haunts  only  to 
iiHTcase  aud  thriv(^  mightily  in  the  cold  mu'thwest  ter- 
ritory, where  the  largest  are  found.  AVhen  a  (irizzlv 
Hear  undcrlakes  to  grow  as  large  as  he  can,  then  tuK'j 

R 


If 


242 


FO Uli-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


warning,  sheep,  range  cattle,  and  linntsmen  !  Of  all 
the  ferocious,  unstopable,  persistent,  disagreeable  beasts 
of  North  America,  this  Bear  is  the  chief  !  Compared 
to  him  the  Polar  Bear  is  a  cat  and  the  Black  Bear  a 
kitten  ;  small  wonder  then  that  the  Wise  Men  named 
him  '' horribilis '  f "" 

"'  I  tliink  you  must  have  met  a  Grizzly  out  walkin"-," 
said  Dodo,  "  so  you  can  tell  us  about  him.  How  big 
was  he  and  liow  did  he  look  ?  " 

"  He  looked  as  big  as  a  load  of  hay  ambling  along, 
but  he  measured^  after  our  battle  was  over,  about  nine 
feet  from  nose  to  tail,  and  stood  four  feet  high  at  the 
shoulder.  As  he  could  not  have  changed  in  size  dur- 
ing an  hour,  it  proves  what  I  have  always  said,  that 
going  either  hunting  or  fishing  turns  human  eyes  into 
magnifying  glasses,  making  them  see  double  at  the  very 
least. 

"  The  rougli  hairy  fur  of  the  Grizzly  varies  so  much 
in  color  tliat  hunters,  judging  by  sight  alone,  often  in- 
sist that  he  is  several  kinds  of  bear  instead  of  one. 
You  all  know  that  you  cannot  judge  by  appearances 
in  studying  anlmalH  ;  if  you  did,  you  would  call  tiie 
WiiaUi  a  l)ig  lisli.  never  guessing  tliut  it  is  just  as  niudi 
a  Mjimmal  as  a  cow. 

"The  (Jrizzly's  suunncr  coat  is  short,  brindled  brown, 
and  liis  wintcsr,  h)ng,  heavy,  and  a  l)ulTy  brown,  not  gri/- 
zk*d  gray  as  somk^  jn'oph^  think.  (Jrizzly,  a  Wise  Man 
says,  means  iiorribh',  an<l  siioidd  be*  spclh'd  g-r-i-s-1-y, 
A  laded  l»rown  will  \)v  lite  coloi-  of  tliose  you  arc  likely 
to  se(!  in  menageries.  This  l»ear  lias  a  iieavy  heiid,  a 
rather  woll'like  face,  with  full  cheek  tufts  of  fur  hush- 
ing out  well  up  to  tlio  oars,  and  eyes  that  express  the 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


243 


deep  cunning  that  looks  like  stupidity.  He  walks  usu- 
ally on  all  fours,  but  can  also  charge  standing  upright, 
looking  like  some  giant  or  ogre  in  a  fairy  tale. 

"'  His  broad  footprints,  for  he  is  a  sole  walker,  also 
have  something  strangely  human  about  them,  and  hunt- 
ers, fancying  that  they  looked  like  moccasin  tracks, 
dubbed  the  drizzly  'Moccasin  Joe.'  Hut  the  likeness 
to  a  foot  disappears  when  you  see  the  long,  cruel  claws 
tluit  end  the  toes  —  claws  that  are  botli  weapons  for 
tearing  and  tools  for  digging  roots,  hollowing  out  a 
den  for  the  winter  sleep,  or  burying  the  food  he  cannot 
eat  at  once." 

''  Do  big  Bears  like  this  have  to  sleep  in  winter  ?  I 
should  think  they  could  keep  warm  enough  to  stay 
awake  with  such  a  thick  coat,"  said  Nat. 

"  III  the  cooler  parts  of  the  country  they  '  den  up,'  — 
the  length  of  time  they  stay  in  varying  from  a  few  weeks 
to  six  months,  and  depending  upon  the  weather.  When 
a  Hear  makes  up  his  mind  to  go  to  sleep,  he  is  generally 
very  fat  and  his  fur  is  at  its  best.  I'm  quite  sure  a  thin 
Hear  would  have  sense  enough  not  to  risk  curling  up 
until  lie  liad  collected  some  fat  about  his  bones  to  feed 
his  winter  life  fire. 

"Now  you  must  imagine  a  piisture  of  Moccasin  Joe 
in  addition  to  the  drawing,  then  take  a  good  look  at 
tiie  Higiiorn  and  Mountain  (Joat,  for  it  was  in  hunting 
for  one  of  these  two  that  I  met  a  (Jrizzly  'out  walk- 
\\][^,'  as  I)o(h)  says. 

"The  Uighorn  is  a  slia|)ely,  well-built  fourfoot,  about 
the  size  of  a  year-old  heifer  (or  in  round  iiiniibers  three 
and  a  half  feet  to  the  shoulder),  with  all  the  linn  plump- 
ness (tf  a  slieei),  having  the    poise   and  swiftness  of  a 


It 


i    t 


If 


I 


• 


244 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Deer,  and  wearing  such  wonderful  horns  that  lie  would 
be  a  marked  aninud  in  any  country.  So  heavy  sire 
these  horns  that  nature  does  not  oblige  the  fenude  to 
carry  them,  giving  her  a  much  smaller  pair.  It  is  suf- 
ficient for  the  males,  who  wage  war  with  each  other 
and  upon  beasts  of  prey,  to  have  such  weapons.  Then, 
too,  the  small  horns  of  the  female  tell  the  hunter  who 
she  is,  and  if  he  is  a  true  sportsman  he  will  never  shoot 
her  or  her  young,  unless  he  is  either  starving  or  needs 
her  vert/  badly  to  complete  some  family  group  in  u 
museum. 

"The  coat  of  the  Bighorn  is  of  a  bluish  dirt  gray,  tlio 
rump  is  whitish,  thick  and  fleecy  beneath,  thicker  on 
the  neck  and  shoulders  than  on  the  flanks,  and  thatched 
with  a  brittle,  strawlike  outer  coat.  In  fact,  at  a  dis- 
tance, if  he  is  standing,  the  whole  animal  looks  white. 
but  in  lying  down  seems  to  melt  suddenly  into  his  .sur- 
roundings. He  is  not  only  a  gamey,  alert  animal,  but 
looks  it ;  he  hits  tlie  air  of  a  mountain  lover,  whose  great- 
est joy  is  to  climb  a  high  peak  and  turn  his  straw-colored 
eyes  toward  the  view.  This  habit  of  course  makes  him 
doubly  hard  to  kill,  for  the  hunter  not  oidy  has  to 
climb,  but  liie  Siieep  can  see  everything  from  his  rotlcv 
outpost,  and  tlie  chances  are  that,  uidess  the  sportsman 
crawls  on  the  ground  for  miles  from  cover  to  cover. 
making  himself  as  flat  as  a  Woodchuck,  when  lie 
arrives  within  sliooting  distance  of  where  the  Sheep 
was,  he  will  see  it  calmly  watching  him  from  anotlici 
pinna(de  a  mile  furtlier  up." 

"  I  Hujjpo.se  they  can  juni[)  just  lik(^  Panthers  and  i^it 
over  [daces  that  people  couldn't  croHS,"  said  l{a[). 

"Tiiey   are   agih;   and  <|ui(dv  runners  and  vuu  jmiiji 


I 


i 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


245 


group  111  a 


moderately,  but  when  they  wish  to  go  'lown  a  steep 
place,  they  set  their  feet  and  coast,  for  the  shock  of 
jumping  so  far  would  kill  them,  even  if  their  bones 
were  not  all  broken. 

"So  hardy  is  the  Bighorn  and  family  that  the  lambs 
born  in  the  early  spring  go  slipping  over  the  ice  after 
their  parents  as  soon  as  their  legs  can  bear  them,  never 
dreaming  of  feeling  cold." 

"If  they  are  hardy  and  live  so  far  away,  I  shouldn't 
think  there  would  be  any  danger  of  their  dying  out," 
snid  Hap.  •  * 

'•  You  would  not  think  so,  and  yet  they  yield  such 
delicious  mutton  that  they  are  persecuted  by  all  the 
flesh-eating  animals  who  are  able  to  take  them,  in  addi- 
tion to  man. 

"The  Mountain  Goat,  on  the  contrary,  is  said,  by 
those  who  know,  to  be  holding  his  own  better.  His 
flesli  is  tough  and  strong-flavored,  and  his  heavy  coat 
of  thick  under-fur  and  rough  white  hair,  that  makes 
him  look  as  clumsy  as  a  miniature  Bison,  is  of  little 
value  as  a  pelt.  The  Indians,  who  used  to  make  robes 
(if  it,  prefer  the  woven  blankets  o})tained  at  the  trading 
stations,  and  so  leave  him  comparatively  alone  in  his 
dizzy  pastures." 

"The  Cfoat  doesn't  look  as  if  he  would  be  a  good 
cliinher,"  said  Rap,  studying  the  picture.  "  He  is 
short-legged  and  clumsy  and  has  a  humpy  wvvV  like 
a  Uison,  and  his  head  pokes  so  far  forward  that  I 
shouldn't  think  ho  could  see  behind  him.  He  hxdvs 
as  if  he  would  lik(^  a  nice,  comforlalde  pastures  lil\(!  farm 
cattle!" 

"His  looks  belie  him,  sure  enough!     He  is  a  foot  less 


i  t 


246 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


tall  than  the  Bighorn,  and  his  smooth  black  horns  do 
not  look  powerful,  but  if  I  could  show  you  one  of  liis 
hoofs,  you  would  see  how  he  manages  to  cling  to  the 
face  of  almost  upright  rocks. 

"  Tliis  hoof  has  a  soft  clinging  cushion  in  the  middle 
and  an  edge  sharp  as  a  skate  ;  the  foot  of  one  of  tlie 
few  animals  who  in  bitterest  weather  declines  all  shel- 
ter, and  often  lies  down  in  the  middle  of  a  frozen  pool 
in  face  of  cutting  wind,  acting  as  if  he  enjoyed  it." 

"  Why  doesn't  he  freeze  to  the  ice  and  die  ?  "  asked  ^ 
Dodo. 

"  That  is  a  question  I  cannot  answer.  He  and  his 
cousin,  the  Musk  Ox,  have  the  secret  of  keeping  warm 
that  nature  taught  their  race  in  the  bygone  age  of  ice. 
But  you  can  understand  how  interesting  the  Bigliorii 
and  Mountain  Goat  are,  and  see  why,  being  within  a 
few  hundred  miles  of  their  haunts,  I  determined  to  find 
them,  crossing  the  Bad  Lands  to  the  mountains  where 
I  had  friends,  without  desiring  to  meet  the  Grizzly, 
who  introduced  himself  to  me  (piite  unexpectedly." 

"  What  are  Bad  Lands  ?  "  asked  Nat.  "  Places  full 
of  robbers  ?  " 

"  No;  Bad  Lands  are  the  parts  of  the  country,  boiiuti- 
ful  to  see  from  the  distance,  but  where  tliere  is  so  little | 
moisture  tliat  few  things  better  than  cacti  and  siidi 
like  plants  will  tlirive.  Tlie  lime-filled,  parti-coloidl 
soil  being  tilled  with  cracks  ami  cafions,  it  is  a  rcgimi 
good  for  game  but  fnnf  for  tlie  farmer,  fun?  for  the  cattki 
raiser  and  very  bad  for  tlie  sportsman  who,  if  overtaktii 
by  darkness,  must  make  his  camp  wliore  he  is,  for  theiv 
are  no  tree  signs  to  guiih'  liiin  on  Ids  way." 

"Are  these  Bad  Lands  all  in  one  place?"  asked  Natl 


ack  horns  do 
oil  one  of  liis 
I  cling  to  the 

in  the  middle 
of  one  of  the 
dines  all  shel- 
a  frozen  pool 
[joyed  it." 
I  die  ?  "  asked 

.  He  and  his 
keeping  warm 
»ne  age  of  ice. 
g  the  Bighorn 
jeing  within  a 
srmined  to  tind 
)untains  where 
st  the  Grizzly. 
:pectedly." 
"  Places  full 

ountry,  hoauti- 
here  is  so  little  i 
jacti  and  siuli 
I,  parti-c(d()reil 
s,  it  is  a  region  I 
ul  Tor  the  cattle 
ho,  if  overtaken  I 
he  is,  for  there  | 

c  ?  "  asked  Nat. 


iMol'NlAIN    UUATS. 


\hdi 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


247 


"I  should  think,  if  they  are,  the  Government  could  put 
a  fence  around  them  to  keep  people  from  straying  in." 

"  That  would  be  a  fine  piece  of  work,"  said  Mr.  Blake, 
laughing.  "  Imagine  putting  a  fence  around  an  irreg- 
ular strip,  that  runs  east  of  the  Rockies,  making  all 
sorts  of  side  excursions,  from  Canada  to  Mexico,  and 
containing  more  than  a  million  square  miles!  It  would 
take  all  the  trees  in  Canada  for  fence  posts,  and  the 
first  post  would  be  old  and  decayed  before  the  last  was 
put  in.     But  let  us  return  to  our  story. 

"  It  was  in  early  summer,  and  the  party  I  had  joined 
was  fairly  located  for  making  a  railway  survey  across 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  not  far  southeast  of  Seattle,  in 
wliat  is  now  the  state  of  Washington.  Look  at  your 
map  and  you  will  find  that  these  mountains,  named 
from  the  streams  of  clear,  cold  water  dashing  down 
their  slopes,  lie  between  the  Rockies  and  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  are  about  as  far  west  as  any  mountains  ex- 
cept the  Olympic  group. 

"  While  the  camp  was  waiting  for  some  instruments 
that  had  not  arrived,  three  or  four  of  us  determined  to 
do  a  little  surveying  for  Sheep  and  Goats  on  our  own 
I  account.  After  keeping  together  for  two  days  and 
1  nights,  until  we  had  worked  our  way  well  up,  we  de- 
cided to  divide,  three  of  tlie  party  to  continue  on 
above  timber-line  after  tlie  Goats,  while  1,  accompanied 
[by  Crawling  Joe,  a  typical  mountaineer  engaged  by  our 
famp  as  a  guide,  meat  provider,  and  useful  man,  was  to 
I  go  southward  along  the  ledges  toward  some  woodlands 
land  plateaus  where  liighorny  were  likely  to  graze." 

"Why  was  the  man  called  CrawUnj  JoeV  asked 
Dodo. 


t! 


I 


\     \i\ 


I 


II 


248 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  Because  of  his  way  of  hunting  Indian -fashion.  No 
matter  which  way  the  wind  blew,  when  he  had  once 
located  an  animal,  whether  it  was  Bighorn,  jMoo.sg,  or 
Elk,  he  would  manage  to  crawl  and  tack  up  against 
the  wind  within  shooting  distance  of  it.  In  doincr 
this  for  years  he  had  acquired  the  cunning  of  a  snake, 
and  would  often  appear  by  the  campfire  as  suddenly 
as  if  he  had  come  through  the  ground. 

"This  particular  day  he  insisted  that  we  sliould 
leave  the  horses  behind  and  go  on  foot,  as  the  rolling  of 
stones  and  other  like  sounds,  made  even  by  tlie  most 
sure-footed  horses,  might  prevent  our  getting  a  sight 
of  our  game.  I  carried  nothing  but  my  pet  Winchester, 
but  Joe  shouldered  a  small  pack  sufficient  for  a  nights 
camping.  After  climbing  pretty  steadily  for  four 
hours,  we  sat  down  to  rest  and  eat  our  dinner  of  cold 
food.  Finding  shelter  at  the  edge  of  a  belt  of  spruces. 
where  there  was  also  water,  we  resolved  to  camp  there  | 
that  night  and  so  left  the  pack  in  a  tree  until  our  re- 
turn, out  of  the  reach  of  inquisitive  Hears,  if  any  should 
pass  that  way. 

"Our  stalk  for  Bighorns  began  about  one  o'clock;! 
Joe  took  the  lead,  directing  me  by  signs.     In  an  hour 
we  were  well  clear  of  the  woods,  and  skirting  a  clift 
full  of  springs  and  caverns.     Suddenly  Joe  dropped  tii| 
his  knees,  motioning  me  to  do  the  same,  then  raisijd  his 
head  and  gave  it  an  upward  jerk.     I  looked,  and  liiilfj 
a  mile  away,  on  a  jutting  rock  tliat  stood  clean  aL^aiiist| 
the  sky,  like  a  headland  against  blue  sea,  was  a  IJighori 
ram,  as  immovable  as  if  ho  were  a  part  of  the  bluegnivl 
stone   itself.     A   little  back  of   him  were  some  ewes, 
lambs,  and  another  ram,  though  as  they  were  lying  (h)\vii 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


249 


it  was  doubly  easy  to  mistake  them  for  stones.  The 
peak  where  they  stood  was  like  an  island.  'Che  wind 
was  blowing  in  our  faces,  and  Joe  signalled  me  to  take 
the  left  route  while  he  turned  to  the  right,  thus  lessen- 
ing the  chance  of  the  sheep's  escape,  at  least  dow7i  the 
mountain.  Already  I  tasted  the  rich  roast  mutton 
with  which  I  had  promised  to  feast  the  boys  of  our 
camp,  who  had  grown  tired  of  salt  meat  and  venison. 

''I  dropped  on  my  hands  and  knees  and  began  to 
crawl  in  a  very  poor  imitation  of  Joe,  for  it  seemed  to 
me  that  every  stone  I  touched  was  either  sharp  as  a 
knife,  or  took  particular  pleasure  in  rolling  down  hill. 
After  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  this  sort  of  work,  the  ledge 
around  wliich  I  was  passing  was  high  enough  to  shield 
me  if  I  walked  upright,  and  this  allowed  me  to  rest  my 
strained  knees  and  elbows. 

"As  I  paused  a  moment  to  look  about,  a  few  bones 
caught  my  eye ;  the  meat  was  picked  from  them,  but 
tiie  gristle  was  quite  fresh.  '  Ah,  ha,'  thought  I, '  a  Bear 
must  have  been  enjoying  some  spring  lamb  ! '  I  thought 
IJear,  and  instantly  I  satv  a  Bear !  Lurching  down  the 
steep  and  stopping  directly  in  my  path  was  a  full-sized 
drizzly,  who  was  evidently  as  surprised  as  I,  but  not 
so  frightened.  The  Bear  rose  on  its  hind  legs,  waving 
its  paws,  and  looked  at  me  slantwise.  I  returned  the 
H'lare  glance  for  glance,  not  knowing  what  else  to  do, 
lialf  ex[)ecting  the  beast  to  run,  as  most  fourfoots  will, 
and  feeling  backward  at  the  same  time  for  a  footing 
tiiat  would  give  me  range  enough  to  use  my  rifle. 

"As  I  took  a  step  backward  the  Bear  stepped  forward 
growling.  I  had  made  a  mistake ;  a  female  Grizzly 
witli  two  or  three  hungry  cubs  in  her  den  does  not  run 


250 


FO  U  It- FOOT  ED  A  MERICA  N8 


m 


that  she  may  live  to  fight,  slie  stays  to  kill  that  she  ma}' 
eat.  Oh  !  for  a  tree  !  If  there  had  been  one  in  sight 
I  would  have  risked  running  for  it,  as  Grizzlies  are  not 
good  climbers  like  the  Black  Bear ;  but  there  I  was, 
I  could  neither  run  nor  shoot.  My  enemy  gave  a  grin 
and  a  growl  and  took  another  step  forward,  clawing  at 
me.  I  dared  not  lift  my  rifle  to  my  shoulder,  lest  she 
should  grab  the  muzzle,  but  I  managed  to  grasp  the 
barrel,  and  swinging  it  round  brought  the  butt  down  on 
the  Grizzlj^'s  nose  with  a  heavy  blow.  She  was  only 
enraged  by  it,  not  stunned,  and  gave  a  growl,  gnashiurr 
her  teeth  with  a  horrible  noise.  For  a  moment  1  ex- 
pected no  other  fate  than  to  become  the  supper  for  the 
little  Bears ! 

"  Something  cold  slipped  along  my  shoulder  and 
touched  my  cheek.  Fortunately  I  had  sufficient  nerve 
not  to  turn  —  there  was  a  sharp  report  close  to  my 
head  that  made  me  deaf  and  kept  my  ears  ringing  for 
months  afterward,  but  the  Bear  pitched  forward,  just 
clearing  me,  and  rolled  down  the  rocks  to  a  ledge  below, 
shot  through  her  wicked  eye. 

"  Then  I  turned.  Joe  was  behind  me,  calm  and  cool 
as  if  he  had  merely  shot  a  Squirrel. 

" '  I  saw  her  a-comin'  from  the  open  yonder,  and  I 
reckoned  you'd  be  wantin'  me  'bout  now.  Never  mind 
skinnin'  her  until  we  get  our  Bighorn  —  she'll  stay 
down  thar  till  we  call  fer  her  !  I  reckoned  that  shot 
would  scare  the  Bighorns,  but  it  liasn't ;  they  must  be  | 
a  green  bunch  that  haven't  ever  been  hunted,'  he  said. 
looking  around  the  corner. 

"  Sure  enough  ;  the  rocks  screened  us,  and  the  ram 
had  merely  shifted  his  position,  while  the  whole  buuclil 


i  I 


THHEE  IJARDY  MOUNTAINEEliS 


251 


were  now  picking?  at.  the  tufts  of  orass  ])jick  of  tlie 
rocks.  I  was  in  no  mood  for  Imntinfif ;  hut  Joe  took  it 
for  »,aanted  that  we  shouhl  '^o  on,  uiu]  the  excitement 
soon  put  the  Bear  out  of  mind. 

"  liefore  dusk  we  had  killed  our  ram,  hut  as  he  rolled 
and  fell  for  some  distance  down  the  cliffs  one  horn  was 
broken  off  and  the  other,  that  lies  there  on  the  mantel- 
shelf, is  the  only  trophy  you  can  have  of  the  day  when 
your  father  was  nearly  turned  into  Bear  meat !  " 

"Oh,  daddy  !  daddy  I  "  cried  Dodo,  jumping  on  his 
I  knee  and  hugging  him,  "what  should  we  have  done 
jif  the  Bear  had  eaten  you?" 

"  It  was  before  you  and  Nat  had  come  to  live  with 
ime.  I  haven't  taken  so  many  risks  since  I  have  had 
jtwo  little  bears  of  my  own  to  care  for." 

"  Was  the  mutton  good,  and  did  you  get  it  back  to 
jciimp,  and  did  the  other  men  get  any  Goats  ?  "  asked 
wit. 

"  Yes,  we  took  the  best  parts  of  the  ram  back  to  the 
bain  camp,  also  the  skin  of  the  Grizzly.     Our  comrades 
JLlid  not  get  anything  that  day,  though  they  did  later 
)n,  and  I  also  have  a  single  Goat  horn  as  a  souvenir  to 
aiatch  my  ram's  horn.     Hand  them  to  me,  Nat." 

Nat  stood  on  a  chair  and  reached  the  two  horns  from 
Ihe  shelf.     One  was  fifteen  and  one-half  inches  around 
it  the  base  and  three  feet  long  on  the  outside  of  the 
iurve,  rough   and   yellowish   gray,    while   the    Goat's 
forn  was   smooth,   black,    and    only   eight    inches   in 
3ngtli. 
"You  see  that  these  two  horns  are  hollow,  from  a 
[ttle  way  above  their  base  to  the  tip,  like  the  horns 
a  Buffido  or  cow.     These  are  true  horns  and  are 


U  I 


I 


252 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMEBICANS 


11 


I 


worn  by  the  animal  for  life,  unless  accident  breaks 
them  off.  Tliey  are  made  from  a  fibrous  material  akiii 
to  hair,  and  cannot  be  separated  from  the  liead  without 
making  a  bleeding  wound ;  as  a  straight  branch  grows 
from  a  tree,  if  it  is  broken  a  scar  is  left  and  the  sap 
runs  out. 

"  The  antlers  of  Deer  are  not  made  of  this  fibre,  but 
of  solid  bone.     They  sprout  from  the  head  of  the  male 
Deer  in  the  spring,  as  a  leaf  bud  does  from  a  twig, 
At  first  they  are  soft  and  tender  as  the  young  leaf  is, 
Then  they  grow  and  expand  in  different  shapes,  eaci 
according  to  its  kind,  some  being  simple  and  others  | 
many -pointed,  like  ferns.     All  the  summer  they  growl 
harder  and  harder,  until  in  autunni  and  early  winter 
they  are    rij)e    and   fall  off   as  the  leaves  do,  leiiviiii; 
a   little    scar   through   which   the   next   year's  antlers  I 
sprt)ut. 

"There  is  one  animal  tliat  you  will  hear  about  sooii,| 
whose   horns  are  stepping-stones  between  the  hollo 
liorns  nnd  the  solid  antlers.     Tliis  is  the  Antelo^jc,  wli 
belongs  to  the   Deer  brancli  of  the  meat  family,  an 
like  other  Deer  sheds  its  pronged  horns,  which  are  still| 
partly  hollow  like  those  of  a  cow." 

"  What  do  you  call  them  if  they  are  half  horn  aiiti| 
half  antlers  ?  "  asked  Rap. 

"The   Wise  Men  call  them  prongs,  and  spoitsnii! 
give  the  Antelo[)e  the  name  of  I'rongiiorn." 

Meanwhile  Mr.  IUak(;  was  unfastening  a  little  omii 
ment  that  hung  to  his  watch-chain,  which  he  hiuidodt 
Dodo,  saving,  — 

"  Here  is  something  I   found   the  otber  day  that  I 
thought  was  lost.    Guess  what  tliat  is,  little  daughter. 


THREE  HARDY  MOUNTAINEERS 


253 


"  It's  a  long,  very  big  dog  tooth,"  said  Dodo,  looking 
CiirefnUy  at  the  yellow  bit  of  gold-capped  ivory  in  her 
pink  [)iilm. 

"  Wrong  ;  it  is  a  tooth  of  the  (irizzly  that  didn't  bite 


me 


t " 


ear  about  soon, 
een  the  hollow  | 
■i  AuteloiH',  \vl 
eat  faujily,  ami 
i,  which  are  still 

e  half  hom  aiii 


and  spoitsnu!; 

)rn. 

ug  a  littU'  tmu- 
icli  he  hiiniU'tli 


XVIII 


ON  TIIK   PLAINS 


REl»AUATI()N8  for  the  Christinas 
party  were  keeping  everybody  hiisv 
lit  the  fiirni.  jMany  mysterious 
boxes  luitl  bundles  kept  arriving 
from  the  city,  but  Dr.  Hoy  liad  in- 
sisted  tliat  the  young  folks  sliould 
make  some  of  the  gifts  with  their 
own  hands.  Olive,  who  was  veiv 
!----"'*3  deft  with  her  fingers,  had  littlt 
trouble  in  devising  pretty  ami 
useful  things,  but  with  Dodo  and  Nat  it  Avas  a  diffiueiit 
matter. 

Aline,  warm  flannel  gown   was  under   eonstructioii 
for  IJap's  motiier  ;  a  like  one,  only  of  a  gayer  pattern,  | 
was  already  linished  for  Mannny  Ibm  —  that  is,  iilllmij 
sewing  on  the  buttons.     Mrs.    lUake  had   cut   out  tin 
various  garments,  Olive  doing  the  Uiaking,  assisted  in 
straight  seinus  and  easy  places  by  Dodo,  to  wii<mi  sew- 
iug  was  a  vi-rv  soh'inn   business.      In  fiiet,  she  lieid  lurj 
needle  as  tiglit  a^  if  she  expected  it  to  jinnp  uiil  (tf  lurj 
lingers,  iiikI  tuggeil  iit  the  liii'cad  as  if  it  iiiid  (lie  slrcn^ll 
of    a    chtthcs-line,  —a  liabil    tiiiit    caused   many   knobj 
broken  cinlfi,  and,   I    must  confess,  tears. 

"  1  think  Nat  ougiit  to  si-w  and    help  us  ;    lie  isii 

254 


f  H 


ON  nil']  I'LAiys 


255 


making  luiytliiiig,"'  she  liiul  siiid  oiio  day  after  [mtting 
her  mother's  patience,  and  a  seam  that  wonld  pucker, 
to  11  severe  trial. 

"•  Plioof  !  men  never  sew,"  he  said  contemptuously, 
"they  leave  such  easy  work  to  girls  !  " 

''  What  is  that  1  hear?  "  said  the  Doctor  from  behind 
Ills  newspaper.  "Men  never  sew?  That  is  a  great 
mistake,  young  man.  Men  are  not  ordinarily  o])lige(l 
to  out  and  make  their  clothes,  but  a  man  should  most 
certainly  know  how  to  use  a  needle.  If  lie  is  a  doctor, 
he  must  be  able  to  sew  up  wounds  and  fasten  bandages 
neatly.  In  any  profession  be  is  apt  to  find  buttons 
missing,  even  if  modern  shirts  are  put  together  with 
studs  ;  while  as  a  woodsman,  traveller,  or  engineer,  such 
as  you  wish  to  be,  he  is  in  constant  need  of  a  stout 
needle  and  thread  ;  a  tent  cover  rips,  a  gun  case  is 
torn,  thorns  cut  the  clothing.  A  man  may  not  sit 
down  in  the  wilderness  and  wait  for  a  woman  to  come 
hy  with  Ihindde  and  scissors. 

"I  think  it  will  be  an  excellent  thing,  Nat,  for  you 
to  leani  to  sew,  and  you  can  begin  at  once  by  putting 
the  various  buttons  on  these  \vra[)[)crs  and  ai)rons.  I 
will  teach  you  bow  myself."  "  Very  well,  I  will,"  said 
Nat,  remembering  that  h(^  and  Kap  were  i)hinning  to 
make  a  tent  in  the  spring;  "but  you  needn't  te(n'/i  nic, 
uncle,  any  one  can  sew  on  buttons." 

"  W'vy  fctr  [)eopl(^  can   sew   on  buttons    jtroperly,'' 

icorreeted     the     Doctor,    "that    is,    l)uttons    on    nu'u's 

Iclotliing  that  will   button  and  stay  buttoned.      I  knt)w 

ailiarming  young  lady  who  sews  beautifully,  but  when 

it  eoini's  to  buttons  she  fastens  them  down  so  Hut  und 

tii,dil  In  the  cloth,  tliul   the  pi»or  but loii-li(d('s  gu[te  und 


i'i 


i   I 


256 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


w 


iHIa 


II 


make  faces  in  trying  to  swallow  them,  and  often  do  not 
succeed  at  all.  One  of  the  button-holes  in  my  over- 
coat  is  suffering  from  a  strained  jaw  now  !  " 

Olive  laughed  and  blushed  at  this,  saying  that  it  rcully 
was  not  so  verif  easy  to  give  the  button  a  nice  little  neck 
of  thread  to  hold  it  and  yet  make  it  strong  and  fast. 

"  Double  thread,  four  times  through,  and  wind  four 
times  round  tlie  neck  is  my  receipt,"  said  Dr.  Hoy. 

So  this  is  how  it  came  about  that  Nat  was  silting 
tailor  fashion  on  the  wolf  skin  facing  the  canij)fiix'. 
sewing  on  buttons,  the  Saturday  before  Christinas, 
having  borrowed  jMammy  Bun's  thimble,  wliich  lie 
wore  on  his  thumb.  i 

"It's  my  turn  again  to  clioose,"  said  Dodo,  going  to 
the  i)ortfolio  ;  "but  won't  you  please  help  me,  Uncle 
Koy?  I  want  to  find  one  of  tliose  animals  with  the 
between  horns,  that  are  lioUow  like  a  cow's  and  yot  fall 
off  like  a  Deer's  !  " 

"The  Antelope,  you  mean.     Turn  a  little   fintliei 
over  —  there  is  a  head  of  a  l*rongbuck  ^  (as  tlie  males  I 
are  called),  showing  tlie  horns,  and  here  is  a  i)ic'tiiif| 
with  the  doe  and  fawn  being  cliased  across  the  i)liiiii  liv 
a  Coyote,  while  tlie  Prairie  Dogs  watch  nervously  fmi 
tlie  doors  of  their  holes,   wondering   wlien   this  little! 
brother  of  the  Wolf  will  turn  his  attention  to  tlicinl 
This  picture  is  (piite  a  drama  in  itself,  and  we  only  nwd 
acUl  one  more  (^liarac^ter  to  have  a  grouj)  of  pliiiiismeii 
about  whom  books  of  stories  could  be  wiitten.     St(i].| 
there  is  the  jjicture  that  I  wish, — the  liadger. 

"If  you  think  a  moment  about  the  animals  of  oiirl 
stories,  you  will   remember  that  thiiv  liave  almost  al 


i  often  do  not 
}  in  my  over- 
! " 

g  that  it  really 
lice  little  neck 
ig  and  fast. 
xnd  wind  four 
,  Dr.  Hoy. 
at  was  silting 
■  the  campfire, 
^re  Christniiis, 
ible,   which  he 

Dodo,  going  to 
lelp  nie,  Tncle 
linials  with  tlie 
w's  and  yet  fall 

:i  little   furthi'i 
:  1  (as  the  mules  i 
3re  is  a  pictiuf' 
OSS  the  pi  11  in  liv 

nervoiisly  fmiii 
when  this  littlt| 
ention  to  tlieiii. 
,nd  we  only  lu'ed 
lip  of  i)luinsiiu'ii 

written.     Stop. 
liadger. 
^  aninuils  of  oiirl 

have  aluHKst  al! 


*"!*•■ -^'^ 


::^t^. 


:h 


••Sfi: 


■■f.- 


Ji^ '  i^'- "ji  •'.-*■ 


•0' 


^^>'»J,*;if« 


"'*i% 


i       M^- 


i'f'-r   r'- 


^M 


Phahuk  iVtoH, 


DllAMA   Ol-    TMW   I'liAINS. 
AnTKI.oI'K. 


CoYoTR. 


!   \ 


(id 

tliC 

t'niii 
the 


Oy   THE  PLAINS 


257 


lived  in  or  about  woods  ou  thickets  of  some  nature,  and 
that  tliey  liave  been  cliiefly  lovers  of  darkness  —  night 
Imntcrs — the  liuifalo  and  Jack  Rabbit  being  the  great 
exceptions.  Now  we  have  come  to  some  fourfoots 
wlu),  like  those  two,  also  prefer  the  open  plains. 
Naming  them  in  order  of  size  they  are  the  Antelope  or 
Proiighorn,  the  Coyote,  the  Badger,  and  the  Prairie 
Dog,  wlio  even  to-day  carry  on  the  drama  of  the  plains 
in  spite  of  the  onward  march  of  two-footed  settlers. 

'•Tliree  of  tliese  four  animals  live  and  feed  in  the 
open  light  of  day,  the  Hadger  alone  being  a  night 
prowler.  Two,  the  Badger  and  the  Prairie  Dog,  sleep 
tlie  winter  sleep,  having  homes  deep  under  the  ground. 
Two,  tlie  Pronghorn  and  C'oyote,  are  always  watching 
and  awake,  always  alert,  living  wherever  their  food  is 
to  he  iotnid.  This  drama  is  not  a  comedy,  it  is  a  tragic 
grand  chain,  liands-all-round. 

"The  Prongliorn  is  a  cud-chewer,  therefore  a  vege- 
tal)le  eater  and  no  cannibal ;  but  the  C\iyote  eats  the 
Prongliorn,  Prairie  Dog,  and  Badger  (when  he  can  catch 
him),  as  well  as  our  old  friend,  the  Jack  Rabbit.  The 
Badger  also  eats  the  I'rairie  Dog,  as  well  as  Rats,  Mice, 
(iophers,  and  other  nuisance  animals,  yet  the  Prairie 
Doy;  is  tlie  only  one  of  the  four  who  increases  beyond 
the  possibility  of  counting,  and  stretches  his  villages 
from  the  home  of  the  Peccary  in  Texas  to  the  land  of 
the  Varying  Dure." 

"Do  tlicy  build  houses?"  asked  Dodo.     "These  in 

the  picture  seem  to  be  sitting  by  little  holes  on  top  of 

ant-hills,  that  look  exactly  like  the  tips  of  the  volcanoes 

on  your  niised  map  in  the  wonder  roouj." 

"They  tlo  not  build,"  said  the  Doctor;   "they  dig 


H1'l 

i  n 
' '  I 


258 


FOUIi-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


houses  in  the  ground,  after  tlie  fasliion  of  their  cousin. 
the  Wooclchuck.    But  the  Prairie  Dogs  are  very  sociable, 
living  in  great  underground  villages,  sometimes  t\\  entv 
or  thirty  miles  long.     We  may  see  the  doors  of  their 
homes  easily  enough,  where  they  sit  hunched  like  little 
old  women,  with  their  arms  wrapped  in  shawls,  yet  quite! 
alert,  like  all  of  the  Squirrel  family  to  which  tlicy  be- 
long.    But  they  never  invite  us  inside,  or  even  giveii,s| 
a  glimpse  of  the  miles  and  miles  of  underground  pas- 
sages that  run  so  deep,  that  I  have  often  wondered  if  I 
this  little  beast  might  not  sometimes  burrow  down  to 
water,  for  though  they  often  live  near  creeks  uiid  k\ 
river  bottoms,  they  also  seem  to  be  content  (piite  o 
of  resich  of  visible  water  at  least. 

"Deep  as  the  passages  may  be,  the    Badger  knows | 
how  to  dig   down  to  them,  and  readily  captures  tlii> 
Prairie  Squirrel,  with  its  grizzled  brown  coat  and  Mar- 
mot's face.     Thougli  called  Prairie  Do(/,  there  is  notaj 
point  of  resemblance  between  this  vegetable  eater  ai 
the  meat-eating  dog,  except  it  is  in  its  cry,  — '  Vap-I 
yap  —  yap  ! '  —  which  is  between  a  yelp  and  a  bark. 

"  (Meanly  in  its  habits  and  rather  prettily  furred,  tlii> 
fourfoot  is  a  prince  among  miscliief  makers,  and  i,s;i| 
line  illustration  of  an  animal  who  is  becoming  not  (Hi 
a  nuisance,  but  a  real  (hinger  to  crops,  because  of  tl 
necessary  disturbance  of  the  great  balance  wlnud. " 

"  What  wheel  was  tliat  ?  1  forget  about  it,"  m\ 
Dodo. 

"I  remember,"  said  Nat;  ''the  balance  wheel  iswld 
Uncle  Uoy  calle<l  'The  Phin  of  th((  World,'  wlail 
things  were  arranged  so  that  every  animal  and  plaiil 
should  l)e  food  to  some  oilier  one,  and  there  should 


1  :  ! 


ON  THE  PLAINS 


259 


!  ;■ 


be  too  much  of  anything.  But  by  and  by  House 
People  had  to  meddle,  and  without  thinking  much 
about  it  killed  off  some  things,  and  then  tiie  others 
crew  too  many,  because  there  was  no  one  to  eat  them  !  " 

'•'  That  is  rather  a  mixed  way  of  putting  it,"  laughed 
Dr.  Roy,  "  but  we  understand  what  you  mean,  which 
is  something. 

"The  Prairie  Dog  eats  not  only  grass,  but  grass 
roots  also,  and  as  soon  as  they  have  eaten  all  within  a 
certain  distance  of  their  homes,  they  move  on,  burrow- 
ing fresh  villages,  leaving  bare,  barren  ground  behind 
tliein,  only  to  lay  waste  fresh  grazing  ground. 

"  iJefore  the  Jiuffaloes  had  left  and  farm  cattle 
roiuned  over  the  plains,  and  wheat  helds  made  green 
seas  of  the  prairies,  the  natural  enemies  of  the  Prairie 
Dou's  held  them  in  check.  But  the  farmer  was  more 
angry  with  the  Coyote,  Fox,  aiid  Badger  tlian  with  the 
seemingly  harmless  Prairie  Dog,  and  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  them,  until  he  found  that  it  was  nnich  worse  to 
liave  his  pasture  eaten  tlian  to  lose  a  few  calves  and 
lambs  —  and  now  the  war  wages  fiercely  in  the  grazing 
and  wlieat  lands. 

"You  may  take  a  rifle  and  play  'catch  as  catch  can, 
until  the  gunpowder  runs  out  of  the  heels  of  your  boots,' 
like  the  people  in  the  nursery  jingle  ;  but  it  is  more 
often  'catcli  as  catch  cant''  when  you  inidertake  to 
rout  a  I'rairie  Dog  town. 

"  I  have  often  siuintered  tlu'ough  one  of  their  villages, 
stiek  in  iiand,  merely  to  see  wliat  they  wi>uld  do.  They 
were  us  usual  on  the  watch,  each  one  ch)se  to  his  door. 
Very  likely  a  Burrowing  Owl,  living  in  some  abandoned 
hole  of  the  dogs,  would  drop  me  a  (puiiiit  bobbing  cour- 


it 

I  !■■' ' 
■  l' 


260 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


tesy  as  I  passed,  after  a  fashion  of  its  own.  Perhaps  I 
woukl  see  a  sand-colored  rattlesnake  disappear  in  one 
of  the  mounds,  probably  to  make  a  meal  and  a  visit  at 
the  same  time. 

"  As  I  drew  near  every  eye  was  upon  me.  If  I  raised 
my  arms  or  stick,  amid  a  cliorus  of  yelps,  down  the 
Prairie  Dogs  would  go  into  tlieir  holes,  only  to  bob  up 
the  next  moment  Jack-in-the-box  fashion.  It  does  not 
seem  to  matter  how  they  enter  the  holes.  They  can 
tun;  a  somersault  down  the  slope  that  leads  from  the 
door  to  the  first  gallery,  and  disappear  backward,  star- 
ing all  the  while. 

"  Curiosity  is  often  as  fatal  to  them  as  to  bjg  game. 
Coyote  knows  this  failing  and  avails  himself  of  it  in 
hunting  them.  You  remember  how  the  great  (iiiiv 
Timber  Wolves  hunt  in  couples  or  in  packs.  Coyote 
also  follows  this  family  habit.  Two  start  out  from  ii 
den  or  lounging  spot  in  tlie  side  of  a  butte  or  coulie." 

"What  is  a  butte?"  asked  Dodo. 

"A  butte  is  a  sort  of  cliff  of  sandstone,  that  rises 
sharply  from  level  ground.  They  are  the  landmarks 
of  the  plains  and  often  take  beautiful  or  fantastic 
shapes,  like  church  spires  or  castles.  Some  buttes  arc 
bare  and  arid,  some  are  dotted  with  clusters  of  pine 
trees.     A  coulie  is  a  cut  made  by  creek  or  river. 

"As  I  said  before,"  continued  the  Doctor,  ^'twn 
Coyotes  start  out  to  see  what  they  can  [)ick  up,  suilliii!; 
about  here  and  there  like  the  vagabond  wild  dogs  they 
are.  If  they  lind  the  carcass  of  some  large  animal,  left 
by  Wolves  or  human  hunters,  tliey  will  gorge  them- 
selves contentedly  U[)on  it,  for  they  are  the  Jackals  of 
our  country  and  revel  in  carrion.     If,  however,  tliey 


i   , 


ON  THE  PLAINS 


261 


meet  with  nothing  of  this  sort,  they  sit  clown  like  a 
couple  of  House  People  deciding  upon  a  plan  of  action, 
and  look  about  the  country  in  all  directions." 

'^  Do  they  look  for  what  they  want?  I  thought  all 
fovufoots  followed  scent  the  most,"  said  Rap. 

"-  With  tlie  beasts  of  woods  and  thickets,  smell  is  the 
keener  sense  of  the  two  ;  but  with  the  animals  who  have 
been  adapted  to  living  in  the  open,  sight  is  better  de- 
veloped." 

''Of  course,"  said  Olive,  "I  can  understand  that,  for 
you  cannot  see  far  in  the  woods,  Avhile  there  are  fewer 
things  in  the  open  country  to  hold  the  scent." 

"  Our  Coyotes  see  in  the  distance  some  Prairie  Dogs 
sitting  at  the  mouths  of  their  caves ;  they  interchange 
signals.  One  Coyote  starts  off  on  a  lazy  trot ;  the 
other  remains  sitting.  The  first  Coyote  does  not 
hurry,  however,  but  goes  in  a  careless  way  toward  the 
village,  and  soon  his  companion  may  be  seen  following 
him.  Singling  out  a  particular  dog,  the  leader  passes 
it  slowly,  but  without  pausing.  Down  drops  the 
Prairie  Dog  into  its  hole  as  if  shot.  In  a  moment 
his  curiosity  overcomes  his  fear.  He  peeps  out,  sees 
the  (Coyote  moving  off,  and  so  resumes  his  doorstep 
watch,  still  eying  the  enemy. 

"The  moment  he  takes  his  place  he  is  snapped  up  by 
Coyote  number  two,  who  has  followed,  all  unseen,  in 
the  footsteps  of  numl)er  one.  This  is  of  course  if  all 
goes  well,  and  no  neiglil)orly  Prairie  Dog  has  given  a 
warning  '  Yap  I ' 

''Some  spring  morning  our  Coyotes  may  fancy  veni- 
son for  breakfast,  and  think  that  nothing  would  taste 
better  than  a  young  Antelope.     Again  they  scan  the 


i.; 


li 


262 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


ilM 


plain,  slinking  along  cautiously  behind  such  scant  shel- 
ter as  the}^  can  find,  or  lying  Hat  on  the  ground  if  no 
cover  offers.  In  the  distance  a  bunch  of  Antelope  sire 
feeding,  their  pronged  horns  showing  them  to  be  chiefly 
males,  who  would  run  too  swiftly  and  fight  too  bravely 
if  the  single  pair  of  Coyotes  should  follow  them. 

"  While  the  Coyotes  are  planning  and  plotting,  let 
us  cross  the  plain  and  look  at  these  Antelopes,  who 
were  once,  next  to  the  Buffalo,  the  most  plentiful  of 
our  big  game  animals,  even  now  holding  out  bravely 
against  great  persecution,  which  if  it  cannot  be  stopped 
will,  in  another  ten  years,  surely  drive  them  out  of 
existence. 

"  The  IJuffalo  may  thrive  for  a  time  in  confinement, 
but  the  Antelope  does  not,  for  he  misses  the  Buffalo 
grass  of  his  native  plains. 

"  The  Pronghorn  is  a  compact  animal,  with  more  the 
shape  of  a  Bighorn  than  of  his  cousin  the  Deer.  He 
measures  three  feet  to  the  shoulder,  has  a  short  body, 
and  is  very  easy  to  identify,  first  by  the  black  horns 
with  double  prongs  that  grow  just  above  and  between 
the  large,  deep  brown  eyes,  next  by  the  neck  bands  of 
brown  and  white,  then  by  the  white  rump,  the  straw- 
like hair  of  the  back  being  dun  color,  like  the  coat  of 
a  Jersey  cow.  The  eyes  of  the  Antelope  are  of  Avon- 
derful  size  and  brilliancy,  and  they  are  among  the 
keenest  eyed  of  our  fourfoots.  The  doe  (as  the  female 
is  usually  called  in  the  Deer  family)  does  not  wear 
horns. 

"The  twin  horns  of  the  little  male  fawns  begin  to 
grow  when  they  are  four  months  old,  and  are  shed  in 
midwinter  or  early  spring,  but  the  old  bucks  usnally 


ON  THE  PLAINS 


263 


lose  theirs  in  autiinin,  at  the  end  of  the  year's  growth 
and  good  grazing.  When  tlie  time  comes  tliat  the  old 
horn  is  ripe  it  drojis  off.  If  you  couUl  h3ok  at  it,  you 
would  find  it  liollow  lialf-way  up,  and  see  how  it  fitted 
over  the  bony  core  from  which  it  grew,  and  wliich  is 
a  part  of  tlie  animal's  skull.  Then  you  would  see  the 
point  of  tlie  soft  new  horn  sprouting." 

"  Wiiy  do  Deer  have  to  shed  their  prongs  and  horns?  " 
asked  Nat.  "  Wiiat  are  they  good  for,  and  isn't  the 
ground  all  prickly  with  them  ? " 

"  They  are  the  weapons  witli  which  the  males  fight 
each  other  when  they  choose  their  mates.  You  have 
seen  that  birds  often  quarrel  in  the  mating  season  and 
peck  and  fly  at  each  otlier,  and  the  fourfoots  are  much 
more  jealous  and  disagreeable,  the  larger  ones,  like  the 
Bears  and  Deer,  often  fighting  terrible  battles.  Their 
mating  season  is  in  the  autumn,  and  when  it  is  over 
they  have  no  further  use  for  their  weapons  until  the 
new  ones  are  ripe  the  next  season." 

"Why  don't  they  need  them  to  fight  people  and 
other  animals  with?"  asked  Rap. 

"Tliey  use  them  in  self -protection  sometimes,  but 
in  fighting  other  animals  they  usually  strike  with  their 
hoofs  and  are  able  to  deal  very  powerful  blows.  One 
of  the  ways  in  which  the  Deer  family  kills  rattle- 
snakes is  to  spring  suddenly  upon  them  with  their  four 
feet  close  togetlier. 

"The  Pronghorn  has  its  winter  and  summer  ranges 
like  the  Buffalo.  In  summer,  unless  drought  turns  the 
coarse  grass  into  hay,  they  fare  well;  but  in  winter  the 
poor  Antelope  huddle  together  in  such  shelter  as  they 
can  find,  and  if  snowed  in,  not  having  snow-shoe  feet  to 


r  M 
I 

I 


264 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMEIilCANS 


n 


! 


travel  toward  better  feeding  grounds,  they  must  freeze 
and  starve  if  tliorougldy  snowbound.  Wliy  we  do  not 
find  more  of  the  cast-off  prongs  or  antlers  on  ilie 
grounds,  is  a  hard  question  to  answer.  Indians  siiy 
because  sometimes  tiie  animals  paw  up  dirt  and  l)uiy 
them,  but  it  is  probably  because  the  great  army  of 
nuisance  animals  gnaw  them  for  food. 

"  The  Antelope  fawns,  one  or  two  in  number,  ure 
born  in  middle  or  late  spring,  and  stay  in  grassy  nouks 
under  slight  shelter  for  a  few  days,  after  which  tliey 
follow  their  mothers.  Tliis  is  a  time  of  peril  for  l)()tli 
fawn  and  Coe.  AVhile  the  fawns  are  too  feeble  to  run 
about,  they  are  comparatively  safe,  but  as  soon  as  they 
come  out  in  plain  sight  the  eyes  of  the  Coyote  world 
are  upon  them,  and  tlie  does  often  lose  their  lives  in 
striving  to  protect  them.  Then  tliere  are  winged  ene- 
mies also,  —  the  great  golden  war  Eagles,  who  swoop 
down  and  seize  the  fawns  easily,  and  are  often  a  match 
for  fully  grown  bucks,  disabling  them  lirst  by  piekiiiir 
out  their  eyes." 

''Do  Antelopes  only  live  in  the  far  West?  AVere 
there  never  any  near  here?"  asked  Dodo. 

"  They  have  never  been  found  east  of  tlie  ]\Iississi|ij)i, 
but  they  once  ranged  all  the  way  from  the  Saskalclic- 
wan  country  down  to  prickly  Pecn-ary  land,  botli  in  tlio 
green  prairie,  foothills,  and  dry,  crack(Ml  alkali  ])lain, 
where  rattlesnakes  and  horned  toads  were:  their  eom- 
panions.  Now  domestic  sliee]»  have  taken  tlieir  sum- 
mer ranges  on  the  bare  shtpes  of  {\\v  foothills,  as  tlu! 
range  cattle  have  re[)laeed  the  Unrialo,  and  llie  giciit 
t'ibe  is  broken  into  (h^taehed  gi'ouj)S,  scattered  liero 
and  there  through  half  a  dozen  states." 


^^m  1 


ON   THE  PLAINS 


265 


'  must  freeze 
liy  we  tU»  not 
tiers  oil  llie 
Indians  s.iy 
irt  and  bury 
L-eat   army  of 

number,  iiie 

grassy  nooks 

I-  wliicli  they 

peril  for  both 

I  feeble  to  run 

i  soon  as  lliey 

Coyote  woi'lil 

their  lives  in 

•e  winged  ene- 

8S,  who  swoop 

often  a  matcli 

st  by  pieking 

W'est  ?     Were 

I. 

he  ]Mississiit|)i, 
lu;  Saskatclu'- 
d,  l)()th  ill  tlio 
I  alkali  i)liiii), 
Vi'  tbeir  com- 
a'li  tbeir  siiiii- 
ootbills,  iis  till! 
and  tbe  <;'n'at 
scattered  lioie 


"  I  should  think  tlie  Coyotes  and  Foxes  could  surelv 
tiud  the  baby  Deer  when  they  were  hidden  in  the 
bushes,"  said  Rap. 

»'So  you  would  imagine,  but  when  the  fawns  are  very 
small  they  are  said  to  have  no  odor  by  which  they  may 
!)('  tiaeked,  and  if  tlieir  motliers  scent  harm  for  them 
llit'V  give  a  bleating  call,  and  tlie  obedient  children 
tliitteii  themselves  close  to  the  eartli  and  are  hidden 
liom  siglit,  in  tlie  same  manner  that  the  little  grouse 


hsappear  i 


It    tl 


leir    inotncr  s  ( 


th 


•luck. 


,s  soon  as  tliey 


a  IV  o 


1(1  eiiouiih  to  have  sti'eiiijfth  in  their  lejjs,  the  fawns 


irase  hiding,  taking  to  their  lieels  wiien  alarmed  — 
and  how  a  I'ronghorn  runs  when  it  chooses  !  Tlie 
fiillv  •n-own  Anteloi)e  can  outrun  a  race  horse  for  a 
lertaiii  distance,  and  thougli  they  cannot  jump  as  far 
upward  as  other  Deer,  they  can  cross  a  great  space  on 
a  level,  and  even  the  little  ones  bound  over  tlie  ground 
as  swiftly  as  Rabbits." 

"1  should  think  if  they  ran  so  fast  and  coidd  see  so 
jfar,  liunters  could  never  catch  them,"  said  Raj). 

"It  is  a  dillicult  matter  in  broken  and  treaclienms 
i,n(mii(l,  l)Ut  their  curiosity  makes  it  possible.  To  chase 
Antelope  on  horseback  at  full  speed  over  the  plains  is 
|(lanL,n'i()MS  work  ;  at  any  moment  a  iiorse  may  step  into 
In  iladger  or  l^rairie  Dog's  hole,  break  ids  leg,  and  give 
[tlic  rider  a  bad  fall.      Hut  sometimes  a  herd,  on  seeing 

hiirseiiiaii,  will  run  a  little  way,  then  all  wheel  round 
iiiil  n'a/e  at  him  before  starting  once  more,  which  lets 
lint  «;'aiii  time. 

"There  was  a  way  of  attrai'ting  Antcdope,  called  sig- 
lalliiig,  by  waving  a  Hag  on  a  p(de.  ( )n  sight  of  the 
kviiviiig  object,  the  curiosity  of  the  animals  was  excited 


if 


266 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


and  they  came  up  to  look,  but  it  only  attracted  Ante- 
lope wl'.o  had  not  been  hunted  before,  and  they  are  now 
growing  too  shy  to  be  deceived  by  it.  Then,  in  addi- 
tion  to  tlie  protection  of  their  coloring  wlien  lying  down 
and  their  own  wonderful  eyesight,  the  Prongliorns  luive 
danger  signals  of  their  own,  added  to  various  cries. 
When  alarmed,  they  can  raise  the  hair  on  tlie  ruinp 
until  it  looks  like  a  huge  white  chrysanthemum,  being 
visible  from  a  great  distance. 

"  Now  whihi  we  have  been  talking  about  the  habits  of 
the  Antelope,  what  have  our  pair  of  Coyotes  planned? 

"■  They  have  sneaked  along  until  they  have  discov- 
ered a  doe,  grazing  tiione  and  followed  by  a  fair-sizeil 
fawn.  After  taking  the  lay  of  the  land  the  Coyotes 
separate,  one  going  over  a  bit  of  rising  ground  to  the 
left  and  the  other  (?re('i)ing  directly  towards  its  prev. 
for  you  must  understand  that  Coyotes,  though  swift 
runners,  cannot  overtake  an  animal  like  the  AnteloiH' 
except  by  forming  a  partnership  of  two,  three,  or  four, 
spreading  out  along  the  runway  and  duising  in  relays 
—  one  starting  when  anotlier  gives  out,  until  their 
victim  is  (piite  spent. 

"Tlie   doe  starts  to  run,  t\w  fawn  keeping  by  lieri 
side,  its  h'gs  striking  out  awkwardly.      On  they  go  fur 
a  mile  or  so  gayly  enough,  tiui  doe  gradually  tin'iiiiij,Mii 
the  left  toward   an  accustonuMl  track,  her  white  Imilj 
bristling  in  alarm,  like  a  warning  cry  of  '  Wolf"  lorm 
of  her  tribe  who  may  heed.      Now  very  soon  the  kn 
begins  to  lag  and  the  Coyote  gains  ui)on  them.     Tin 
doe  is  prei)ar(Ml  for  thi.s,  and  gradually  drops  heliiiilj 
keeping  the  fawn  in  front  of  her.     One  minute  iihh 
and  as  the  Coyote  strives  to  i)ass  and  stMze  the  lu<l.  1 


f:! 


ON    THE  PLAINS 


267 


.(. 


will  receive  a  stunning  blow  in  the  head  from  those 
locklike  hoofs.  Then  tiie  pair  will  be  safe,  unless  they 
are  too  tired  to  escape  the  second  Coyote  who  is  waiting 
to  head  them  off  a  little  further  on.  But  if  the  second 
Coyote  should  arrive  on  the  scene  before  the  first  is 
tUsiibled,  struggling  is  useless,  and  the  little  Wolf 
1)1  /tliers  will  have  the  venison  breakfast  that  they 
coveted." 

"  You  said  the  Badger  holes  were  dangerous  for 
liursenien.  Do  Badgers  live  with  the  Prairie  Dogs?" 
iisked  Dodo.  "  The  Badger  in  this  picture  is  very 
funny  —  he  looks  very  silly,  and  as  if  he  wanted  to 
sneeze  and  couldn't !  '' 

''  Hadgers  make  their  homes  near  Prairie  Dog  towns 
or  at  wood  edges.  Tliese  burrows  are  very  curious 
affairs  too.  They  go  down  fully  six  feet,  then  separate 
into  galleries  that  lead  to  different  rooms,  the  master  of 
the  house  occupying  the  largest,  deepest  apartment  all 
hy  himself.  Tiiey  aie  clean  beasts,  too,  and  keep  their 
(luarters  very  neat.  Foolish  as  the  Badger  looks,  he  is 
a  liene  foe,  and  it  is  a  plucky  dog  or  beast  of  any  kind 
who  can  nmt  him  from  his  hole. 

"The  Badger  is  about  two  feet  from  nose  to  tail, 
whieh  is  rather  short;  tiio  l)ody  is  broad  and  Hat,  the 
skin  thick  and  lough,  the  back  and  fore  legs  as  strong 
as  ii'on.  It  lias  a  p(>inted  nose,  keen  black  eyes,  and  a 
wliite  strii)e  running  from  its  nose  over  its  head  to  the 
shonhlers.  'IMie  general  color  of  its  winter  fur,  which 
istiiict'  inches  long,  is  a  frosty  gray.  We  say  of  a  man 
who  has  peculiarly  white-tipped  hair,  '  IIi^  is  gray  as  a 
iiadifcr.'  The  summer  fur  is  less  brilliant,  being  yel- 
Inwisii  and  faded.     Tiiu  Badger's  chief  claims  to  fame 


268 


FO  Uli  -  FO  (}  TED  A  MFE ICA  NS 


W:3Bbi  n 


f 


are  his  long,  cruel  claws,  used  both  as  tools  and  weapons, 
which,  combined  with  his  sharp  teeth,  make  him  an 
animal  to  be  attacked  cautiously.  Both  back  and  front 
feet  have  live  strong  toes  set  well  in  the  flesh,  armed 
with  claws  that  make  the   Badger  a  veritable    steam 


IUdukk. 

shovel  for  digging.  Once  give  him  ever  so  small  a 
start  1111(1  he  can  burrow  Taster  than  anything  run 
ToUow  him.  Or  let  liim  back  into  iiis  hole,  hraiiiii,' 
his  hind  IVcl,  and  any  Dog,  Fox,  or  ('oyote  who  trios  to 
draw  liim  out  will  be  lorn,  bitten,  and  most  likely  luivo 
his  throat  cut." 

*' Are  lliidgers  good  for  anything  but  to  keep  down 


ON   THE  PLAINS 


209 


WW.fftW''''^/'^' 


nuisance  animals?"  asked  Rap,  getting  up  reluctantly, 
for  lie  was  obliged  to  go  home  early  that  night. 

''  Ves,  paint  and  shaving  brushes  are  made  from  their 
stilTer  tail-hairs,  and  their  pelts  have  a  small  value  in 
tlie  fur  market." 

••  I've  finished  my  last  button,"  said  Nat,  jumping 
up  as  liap  closed  the  door  ;  "  but  my  lingers  are  all 
cnnnped." 

"I  should  think  they  would  be,"  said  Olive,  "sit- 
ting all  in  a  heap  and  pushing  the  needle  witli  your 
tluunb.  The  buttons  look  very  nicely,  though,  don't 
they,  father?" 

"  Ves,  and  you  see  they  all  have  nice  little  necks,  and 
llic  button-holes  do  not  make  faces  when  tliey  swallow 
tliciu,"  added  Nat,  i)r(mdly. 

"The  last  present  is  linished  —  now  eimies  Cliristmas 
and  tlie  tree  !"  cried  Dodo,  claj)ping  her  liands.  "•  May 
\ve  (»it('n  our  baidv  and  see  if  we  have  enough  nioiu'y  to 
hny  Ihe  bird  book  for  Rap?  Y(m  said  we  miglit  wiien 
llic  sewing  was  all  done.  Ves  ;  here  it  is,  I  liid  it  in 
tlie  wolf  skin  to  liave  it  all  ready.  Oii,  wliat  a  lot  of 
pi'uiiics,  and  a  gold  dollar  !  Who  put  that  in,  I  wonder? 
it  was  you,  daddy,  I  can  tell  by  the  way  the  end  of 
your  nose  winks  I  Do  ctuuit  for  me,  Olive,  the  pennies 
«Iil       ■- 


)  so 


"Four  dollars  and  lifty  cents,"  said  Olive,  after 
coiMiling  twice  over. 

"Hurrah!"  shunted  Nat,  "the  liook  l{ap  wishes  oidy 
costs  three  (lollais  and  lifty  cents,  so  we  can  buy  him  a 
hig  ht»x  of  real  city  caiuly  too  I  " 


il  to  keep  (U'Wii 


il 


XIX 


UNDER  THE   rOLAli  STAR 


UCH  wind  and  threatening 

weather,  then  two  days 

of    falling    snow    that 

buried  the  fences,  and 

at  last  the  northwest 

wind  sent  the  clouds 

scurrying,  and  bright 

sunshine  returned  with 

the  day   before  Ciirist- 

mas. 

"  It  is  like  the  pictures  in  a  fairy  story  ;  do  look  at 
the  trees  and  the  top  of  the  rose  arbor !  "  said  Dodo 
that  Friday  morning,  as  she  rubbed  a  peep-hole  in  tlie 
frost  on  the  dining-room  window.  "  Rod  is  breakin::r 
the  road  up  the  hill,  and  all  you  can  see  is  the  top  of 
his  head,  and  Tom  and  Jerry  step  in  up  to  where  their 
blankets  are  strapped.  It's  lucky  we  had  the  Clirist- 
mas  tree  cut  down  and  waiting  in  the  shod  before  the 
snow  came." 

"It  isn't  in  the  slied,"  said  Nat,  mischievously,  com- 
ing in  witli  dancing  eyes  and  a  very  red,  cold  nose,  the 
only  parts  of  his  fact^  that  could  be  seen  l)etwci'ii  liis 
mnlHer  and  cap  ])rim. 

*'  ( )h,   where  is  it  ?  "  wailed  Dodo.     "  Do  you  think 

870 


UNDER   THE  POLAR   STAR 


271 


any  one  has  ^olen  it  —  was  there  any  trail  in  the 
snow  r 

'^  Ves,  some  one  has  dragged  the  tree  ont ;  T  saw  the 
fo()t})rints  and  marks  of  the  hranclies  !  " 

"Do  let's  go  and  tell  Uncle  Hoy,  or  it  will  he  too 
late  to  cut  another." 

''Nat  is  teasing  you,"  said  Olive.  "  Father  and  Un- 
cle Jack  are  the  thieves,  for  1  see  them  dragging  the 
tree  round  to  the  camp  now." 

Bang!  went  the  door,  and  the  dining  room  was  empty. 
***** 

The  tree  touched  the  ceiling  and  was  fastened  to  a 
beam  with  wire  to  keep  the  top  steady,  while  the  stand 
that  liehl  it  was  so  prettily  covered  with  moss  and  pine 
needles  that  it  looked  quite  like  the  ground  where  the 
sprnce  grew.  Pine  knots  would  have  been  tlie  proper 
lights  for  a  camp  Christmas  tree,  but  Dr.  Hoy  was  so 
afraid  of  setting  the  old  dry  beams  afire,  that  he  ob- 
jected even  to  candles,  and  so  Mr.  Blake  had  sent  to 
the  city  for  a  number  of  tiny  electric  lights  that  would 
twinkle  in  safety. 

Nat  and  Dodo  helped  twine  the  beams  with  ever- 
greens and  hang  the  decorations  on  the  tree,  but  no 
more.  They  would  not  for  worlds  have  peeped  at  even 
the  corner  of  a  present,  i\wy  were  so  fond  of  Ifcing  sur- 
prised. In  s})ite  of  the  tem})tation  to  go  outchjors,  they 
were  too  nuudi  excited  to  care  for  making  snow  houses, 
or  throwing  snowballs,  and  kept  in  a  perfect  iidget  un- 
til three  o'(do('k,  tile  hour  when  Rod  was  to  take  the 
hig  sleigh  to  the  depot  to  meet  the  party  from  the 
inonutain. 

•  «  4l>  «  • 


w 


272 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


3-  t 

n 


I 

I 


"  They  are  coming,  they  are  almost  at  the  corner,  for 
1  can  hear  the  bells !  "  cried  Dodo.  "  Now  they've 
stopped  !  " 

"  They  are  waiting  for  Rap  and  his  mother,  you  know 
the  sleigh  was  to  call  for  them.  Here  they  are ! " 
shouted  Nat,  dashing  down  to  the  gate,  —  "that  is, 
all  I) Lit  Toinette  !  " 

Sure  enough  she  had  not  come.  "  Got  basliful  at 
the  last  minit,"  said  Nez ;  "  allowed  she'd  better  stay 
home  and  keep  house  along  with  her  brother  who's 
winterin'  with  us,  but  they're  goin'  over  to  the  Kidge 
to-morrer  to  keep  Christmas  Canady  style  with  some 
country  folks  o'  theirn.  Reckon  they'll  see  their  Cluist- 
mas  candles  in  church  !  " 

This  was  a  very  long  speech  for  Nez,  and  he  inuiie- 
diately  retired  to  the  barn  with  Rod,  looking  as  if 
lie  was  afraid  of  a  real  house  with  carpets  and  cur- 
tains. 

Olaf  took  some  oddly  shaped  parcels  from  the  bottom 
of  tlie  sleigh  and  carried  them  to  the  stoop,  driving 
Phonse  and  Dominique  in  front  of  him  lii^e  a  pair  of 
balky  geese;  but  they  soon  felt  at  home  and  began  to 
talk  when  they  had  been  introduced  to  the  dogs  ami 
saw  Clammy  Bun  preparing  supper. 

"  I  think  those  long  bundles  look  as  if  they  migh 
hold  show-shoes,"  said  Nat  to  Olive  ;  "  but  wluit  is 
in  that  green  bag,  I  wonder?" 

"  I  have  brought  my  ilddle,"  said  Olaf.  its  if  in  answor 
to  Nat's  (juestion.  "  Vour  fallier  sulci  to  me:  'Oliif.  I 
liavc  a  banjo  ;  bring  your  iiddle  and  we  will  make  nuisii 
together.'" 

Olaf  often  spoke  slowly,  as  if  he  thought  in  his  own 


!  |.M 


UNDER   THE  POLAR  STAR 


273 


tongue  and  turned,  the  words  to  English  as  he  said  them, 
yet  always  using  good  language. 

The  children  began  the  entertainment  of  their  guests 
by  nhowing  them  everything  on  the  farm,  from  Sausage 
up,  and  had  only  half  explained  the  wonder  room  when 
the  bell  rang  for  tea. 

''Tiie  little  boys  have  brought  funny  knit  nighties 
and  nightcaps  with  red  tassels,"  whispered  Nat  to  Dodo, 
as  he  returned  from  showing  the  Brownies  —  as  Olive 
called  them  —  their  room  and  had  helped  unwind  some 
of  tlieir  wrappings. 

Supper  was  a  rather  mixed,  but  very  merry,  meal. 
Olive  liad  dilficulty  in  keeping  Dodo  from  asking  the 
lirownies  why  they  preferred  fingers  to  forks,  while 
Mr.  Wolf  and  Quick  saw  instantly  that  something 
unusual  was  in  the  air  and  roved  about  the  table  try- 
ing to  snatch  scraps,  something  that  they  had  never 
before  dreamed  of  doing.  Hut  then  if  Christmas  comes 
l)ut  once  a  year,  having  a  party  of  two  Brownies,  a  real 
live  woodsman,  and  a  Fin  who  knows  a  Dream  Fox,  is 
raver  yet. 

The  men  went  out  in  the  clear  starlight  for  a  breath 
of  air  and  to  smoke  their  pipes.  Rap's  mother  helped 
Manuny  Bun  in  washing  dishes  and  making  the  kitchen 
neat,  so  that  by  eight  o'clock  everything  was  in  order 
for  tlie  march  upon  Camp  Saturday. 

"  Isn't  it  nice?"  said  Dodo  to  the  Brownies;  "eight 
o'clock  is  go-to-bed-time  on  commcm  niglits,  but  Christ- 
mas eve  it  is  the  very  beginning,  for  daddy  says  we 
may  stay  up  until  ten  I  " 

Tli(^  Brownies,  however,  did  not  understand  much 
about  time,  for  they  usually  went  to  bed  whenever  it 


■!■ 


*i  i 


274 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


grew  dark.  While  they  all  stood  waiting  for  the  sign 
to  be  given  for  opening  the  camp  door,  a  scream  came 
from  Mammy  Bun,  who  was  already  inside. 

"  For  de  Ian'  sakes,  Massa  Doctor,  come  hyar  right 
smart !  Billy  Coon,  he  am  in  der  tree  eatin'  eberyting  I 
I  tink  he  hab  bit  one  o'  dem  fancy  lights,  shor'  nulf ! " 

The  waiting  procession  immediately  stampeded. 
Fortunately  the  tree  was  fastened  at  the  top,  or  Billy's 
fat  body  would  have  overturned  it  and  wrought  dire 
mischief.  As  it  was,  he  had  only  eaten  a  few  lady 
apples  and  a  candy  cane,  so  he  was  driven  into  a  far 
corner,  where  he  sat  devouring  a  string  of  popcorn  that 
caught  round  his  neck,  for  the  Brownies  were  deliglited 
to  see  their  old  friend,  and  the  children  all  begged  that 
he  might  not  be  banished. 

The  tree  lights  twinkled  in  e?  rnest,  and  made  such  a 
blaze  that  the  Brownies  blinked,  and  an  hour  was  spent 
in  exploring  the  branches  of  the  tree  after  the  ground 
had  been  gleaned  of  the  larger  gifts.  If  this  was  not 
a  story  of  fourfoots,  I  would  tell  you  all  about  the 
presents,  —  the  names  of  the  bicycles  that  Olive,  Nat. 
and  Dodo  received,  of  Rap's  bird  book,  jMrs.  Blake's 
soft  sealskin  jacket,  the  Brownies'  toys,  Olaf's  carved 
pipe,  and  Nez'  knife  that  had  a  blade  for  everything 
and  one  extra.  I  must  not  even  whisper  about  these 
things,  except  to  say  that  the  snow-shoes  were  tlune: 
but  hurry  to  tl.e  story  that  Olaf  told  as  he  gazed  from 
the  tree  to  the  campfire,  listening  now  and  then,  as  if 
his  words  came  from  tlie  wind  outside. 

"  Wlio  sliall  choose  the  pictures  to-niglit  ? "  askeil 
Olive.  "  It  is  Dodo's  turn  to-morrow,  but  tliis  is  an 
extra  evening."   * 


I 


:'! 


UNDER   THE  POLAR   STAR 


275 


"Let  Olaf  choose  for  himself,"  said  the  Doctor. 
*'  He  has  a  story  in  mind  and  knows  what  he  needs  to 
iUustrate  it." 

Olaf  took  six  pictures  from  the  portfolio ;  the  first 
three  were  of  a  Polar  Bear,  a  Caribou,  and  the  Musk 
Ox,  a  shaggy,  brown  beast  with  drooping  horns,  that 
looked  half  sheep  and  half  Buffalo.  The  other  three 
were  of  Sea  Lions,  Seals,  and  a  Walrus. 

"They  are  all  strange,  far-away,  cold  country  ani- 
mals," said  Rap  ;  "  just  the  right  sort  for  a  winter 
story." 

"^line  is  a  tale  of  ice  and  snow,  long  nights  and 
short  days,  of  a  country  >/hose  north  border  sleeps  in 
the  twilight  a  third  of  the  year,  —  if  it  were  not  so  the 
people  would  be  sightless  from  the  snow  blindness,  — 
a  land  of  hunger  and  cold,  of  jore  famine,  and  then 
brutal  huntL.g.  We  may  call  this  place  Fur  Land, 
and  it  lies  under  the  Polar  star  and  is  the  place  where 
the  white  Bear  rug  and  sealskin  jacket  are  at  home." 

"Please,  Olaf,"  interrupted  Dodo,  "if  you  know 
about  this  far-away,  cold  country,  can  you  tell  if  the 
Reindeer  tliat  Santa  Clans  drove  have  any  American 
cousins,  and  why  children  never  see  him  driving  over 
the  roofs  or  coming  down  the  chimneys  any  more  ?" 

"Yes,"  said  Olaf,  hesitating  a  moment;  "those  Rein- 
deer have  cousins  living  with  us.  They  are  called  the 
Caribou,  and  grow  of  two  varieties,  —  one  short-legged 
and  stunted,  that  tracks  the  treeless  Barren  Grounds, 
and  the  other  here  pictured,  tlie  Woodland  Caril)ou. 
ihit  '  why  do  children  no  longer  see  the  good  Santa 
Chius?'  That  question  has  a  sad,  sad  answer,  coming 
from  unfair  hunting,  which  drives  so  many  line  things 


276 


FOUli-FOOTED  AMKliWANH 


out  of  this  land.  Think  you  Saint  Nichohis  will  hrincr 
his  maijic  Deer  here  for  men  to  shoot  with  their  hnw. 
reaching  guns  ?  He  knows  their  cruel  hearts  too  well, 
and.  keeps  away  so  that  no  man,  pointing  to  a  row  of 
antlers  over  his  chimney-piece,  may  say,   '  Tliose  are 


Woodland  Caribou. 

the  horns  of    Santa   Claus'   Reindeer ;    1   myself  shot 
tliem  all  with  a  single  hullet ! ' 

"  Come  then,  whistle  to  our  Woodland  Carihou  tn 
take  us  to  this  Fur  J^and,  but  do  not  be  impatient;  kj 
has  far  to  journey  to  us. 

"He  has  his  home  in  the  woods,  upon  our  northern  I 
borders  and  on  into  the  British  Kingdom,  as  far  as  trees 


UNDER   THE  POLAR   STAR 


211 


5«ftw"li««wl>»»i^ 


;    I   myself  shot 


(Tiow  to  give  liiiii  shelter.     In   summer  he  loves  cool 
iiuuslies,  where  he  feeds  on  plant  roots  and  fresh  tree 
buds ;  in  winter  he  journeys  to  high  ground  and  paws 
the  snow  away  to  find  gi'ass,  moss,  or  lichens,  so  he  is 
uhvays  restless,  moving  about  more  than  his  stunted 
brother  of  the  Barren  Grounds,  and  we  must  often  look 
fill'  and  wide  to  find  him       Ah,  he  is  a  fourfoot  built  to 
stand  the  cold,  and  shod  for  snow  striding  I      Look  at 
his  picture.     See  the  strange  antlers,  both  palmed  and 
lined,  brancliing  downward  as  gnarled  old  trees,  no  two 
pairs  growing  (piite  alike.     Even  the  female  Caribou, 
or,  as  she  is  called  in  this  tribe,  the  cow,  wears  small, 
si)ike(l  liorns.     See  his  long,  stout  hair  that  makes  a 
thatcli  like  straw  to  keep  the  wet  and  cold  out  of  his 
undercoat.     He  is  not  pretty,  this  Caribou  ;  ah,  no  I  his 
face  and  neck  look  faded,  and  he  is  at  best  a  dingy  sort 
of  brown  with  a  lighter  colored  rum]).     His  tail  is  lined 
with  wliite,  and,  when  raised,  becomes  liis  signal  flag  of 
danger.     See  the  foot  gear  he  wears  ;  is  it  not  wonder- 
ful?   Two  hoofed,  spreading  toes,  curved  inward,  with 
two  more  behind,  all  edged  with  stiff  hairs.     When  he 
phmts  liis  feet  his  hind  legs  bend  toward  the  ground, 
making  long  snow-shoes  such  as  no  other  deer  wears. 
Tlie  [)alm-horned  Moose,  the  largest  of  our  deer,  sinks 
in  the  snow,  and  after  much  running,  falls  exhausted. 
[The  l^lk,  tlie  king  of  all  his  tribe,  has  small,  sharp- 
I'dged  hoofs  ;   but  this,  the  third  from  the  largest,  the 
iiwkward  Caribou,  wears   such  snow-shoes  that,  if  he 
were   tamed   and    trained,    he   too,   like   his    lleindeer 
cousin,  Avould  be  a  useful  beast  of  burden  in  our  bleak, 
Inorth  country. 

"He  does  not  come  ;  whistling  will  not  bring  him  ; 


I  f 


IH 


«ii 


278 


FOUR-FOOTED   AMERICANS 


>/  -!! 


we  must  go  without  him,  for  we  cannot  wait.  Per- 
liaps,  as  he  sheds  his  great  antlers  near  Christmas  time, 
he  feels  shy  and  helpless.  I  will  call  the  'Day-Dream 
Fox '  to  guide  us.  Look  well  at  the  map  while  wo  are 
travelling  open  eyed,  for  he  leads  the  mind  in  minutes, 
where  it  would  take  the  feet  long  montlis  to  follow. 

"Go  up  through  our  plains  to  tlie  British  countries, 
where  the  great  company  of  Hudson's  Hay  catches 
fur  for  half  the  world,  and  the  Beaver,  Otter,  Suble, 
Mink,  Wolverine,  and  Silver  Fox  still  flourish,— on 
across  Assiniboia  and  Saskatchewan.  See,  we  find  the 
names  of  fourfoots  everywliere  :  Bear  Lake  and  Rein- 
deer Lake,  while  curving  from  the  Rockies  toward 
Huds(m"s  liay  we  cross  the  Caribou  Mountains."' 

"  Did  you  learn  American  geograpliy  when  you  went 
to  school  'way  up  in  Finland?"  asked  Dodo,  "or  did  you 
learn  it  by  walking  over  tlie  country?" 

"  I  learned  a  little  even  then,  and  much  more  after- 
ward, and  I  have  lived  in  this  Nortli  Country  for  tlirte 
years.  Beyond  tlie  Caribou  Mountains  we  come  tn 
(Jrcat  Slave  Lake,  and  from  tliere  up  to  the  waterV 
edge  we  are  in  the  Barren  (irounds.  Barren  of  trees. 
of  everytlnug  but  liercest  Wolves,  tlie  White  Fox,  Musk 
Ox,  Caribou,  and  a  few  grim  Bears  who  wear  cliaiijfcil 
faces  from  their  gri/./ly  mountain  l)r()tli(M's,  throngli  liv- 
ing in  this  bare  wildtu'iiess.  This  place  is  like  a  battln 
ground,  \vlitM((  Wolf  kills  Ox,  Caribou,  and  Kox,  whih 
the  Indian,  wluui  Ik^  ventures  up  so  far,  kills  all  tlu'si'| 
in  turn. 

'•  Tliiu'e  T  can  fancy  the  Musk  Oxen  standi ui,' in 
herd    of   twenty  or   nuu'e,  pacikcd   (closely  for   dct'cnn'.J 
frightened  by  scent  of  blood,  as  if  wild  <logs  or  Wolvf 


]  wait.     l*er- 
iristmas  time, 

*  Day-Dueam 
,  wliile  \vc  are 
id  in  minutes, 

to  follow, 
bish  countries, 
i    Hay  catches 
,  Otter,  Siible, 

flourish,— on 
,66,  we  find  the 
ake  and  Hem- 
lock ies  towai-tl 
mtains."" 
wben  you  went 
do, ''or  did  you 

icli  n\ore  after- 
nmtry  for  three 
ns  we  come  to 
to  the  water's 
\'Mm\\  of  trees. 
riiitc  Fox,  Musk 

0  wear  ('l»anj,nMl 
crs,  tliroui^h  liv- 
>  is  like  a  l)attli' 

,  and  Fox,  whiM 
r,  kills  all  th("si'| 

Ml  staudin|4  in 
m.ly  for  <l*'»'^'i>''*'l 

1  do«^s  or  \\o\\A 


1 

\ 

t 
\ 

\ 
\ 

■ 

'  i  »>■ 

* 

'  '  \ 

If 

1 

■\  ^ , 

y 

\ 

i 

1 

\ 

\ 

u:nder  the  polar  star 


279 


siinouiitled  them.  If  it  were  spring,  1  should  know 
that  the  young  calves  were  there  inside  the  protecting 
ring".  WliJit  iire  they  watcliing?  One  of  their  herd 
in  terror  sniffs  and  paws  tlie  ground  where  a  Wolf  has 
dragged  some  bleeding  meat,  like  the  ox  in  our  picture. 
This  beast,  though  called  an  ox,  is  really  more  like  a 
great  sheep,  measuring  over  four  feet  at  the  shoulders." 

»'  How  is  it  more  like  a  sheep?  "  asked  Nat. 

"Tiie  Wise  Men  say  that  its  teeth  are  like  a  sheep's, 
!in(l  its  feet  like  those  of  an  ox,"  said  Dr.  Hoy,  to  help 
Olaf,  who  knew  what  he  had  seen,  but  not  so  much 
about  the  bones  and  building  material  of  animals.  "  He 
has,  you  see,  an  ox's  nose,  but  his  horns  curve  strangely 
downward.  His  brown  robe  is  longer  and  thicker  than 
the  cor.t  •  "  any  other  of  our  fourfoots,  (piite  covering 
his  she-  .  ep's  tail.  The  hairy  coat  is  abuost  two 
feet  long,  wnile  underneath,  packed  closely  to  the  body, 
is  a  tlcecc  blanket  that  falls  away  in  summer." 

"  I  see  his  funny,  turned-in,  hairy,  snow-shoe  toes, 
and  lie  has  a  bit  of  a  Buffalo's  hump,"  said  Dodo,  afU^r 
h)nking  at  the  picture.  "  How  (pieer  it  is  to  lind  that 
such  strange  beasts  belong  in  our  America  I  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Dr.  Koy,  "and,  what  is  more,  with  the 
exeeption  of  (ireeulaud  they  live  nowhere  else  but  iu 
Ndi'tli  America." 

"  Does  the  Musk  Ox  make  good  meat,  like  the  Buf- 
falo?" asked  Kai). 

"Oil,  no,  very  poor  nu-at,  coarse  and  tough,  with  the 
rank  llavoi-  of  musk  that  gives  this  ox  its  nanu'.  Only 
Wolves  and  starving  Indians  care  to  i«at  it.  'Die  skin 
is  tougii  and  serviceable  enough  if  you  can  get  it  off 
withuiil  tearing." 


Ill 


280 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I 

'■i 


] 


"What  does  the  Musk  Ox  eat?"  asked  Nat. 

"  Moss,  wiry  grass,  and  licliens,  a  scanty  living  diiT 
from  beneath  tlie  snow  with  the  liooked  horns,  or  scraped 
up  with  the  hoofs  that  do  double  service  in  digging  und 
helping  the  ox  climb  rocks,  and  also  to  run  swiftly  over 
slippery  ground.  The  cud-chewers  fare  poorly  in  the 
Northlands.  Where  the  prowling  flesh-eaters  can  feed 
upon  each  other,  the  grass-eaters  often  go  hungry,  and 
all  the  beasts  of  the  l^arren  Grounds  are  flesh-enters, 
save  the  Caribou  and  Musk  Ox. 

"Now  we  go  further  north  and  reach  frozen  sea  edges. 
Round  the.se  ice-clad  borders  prowl  the  Polar  IJeiirs, 
following  the  ice  downward  as  it  creeps  to  open  .sea  in 
winter,  and  going  north  again  in  summer,  .seldom  com- 
ing twoscore  miles  inland,  like  the  coast-loving  Eskinin 
himself. 

"  Wiiat  is  he  made  of,  this  great,  clumsy,  half-ton  mass  I 
of  flesh,  clothed  in  thick,  yellow-white  fur  from  noso  tip 
to  j)oint  of  claws?  ( 'lothed  ?  —  no;  padded  is  the  hcttii 
word,  for  his  long  nccik  and  small  head  grow  from  it 
rolling  bale  of  fur  on  legs.  Tliis  White  Hear  slccjjsoii 
ice  and  soaks  in  ice  wat(!r,  never  dreaming  of  the  i'(dd, 
Can  lie  be  warm-blooded  flesh  ?  liut  yes,  he  is.  The 
slie  HeiU's  brin<^  fortli  their  young  in  icy  caves  ami 
hardtMi  tiieir  cubs  to  swim  with  them  in  icy  .sons,  mid  tn 
f()lh)W  lludr  ])iirents  while  they  tnud^  and  hunt  down 
their  Seal  and  Widrus  meat,  or  shuflh'  along  the  slion- 
to  feed  upon  (hiad  Whides. 

"A  great  hunter  is  (liis  Hear,  (piitdv  of  tooth  inil 
claw;  he  .'.talks  the  Seals  as  ujcn  do,  stealing  l)(diini 
them  when  they  come  upon  land,  sei/.ing  tlieiii  wlitu 
they  turn  to  hide  in  their  water-holes.     Over  all  (In 


I  Nat. 

ity  living  dui,' 
)nis,  or  siii'iiped 
in  digging  and 
Lin  swiftly  over 
}  poorly  in  the 
eaters  can  feed 
go  Imngry,  and 
ire  tlesh-eaters. 

rozen  sea  edges. 
le  Polar  lieais. 
3  to  open  sea  in 
er,  seldom  com- 
t-loving  Eskimo 

^y,  half-ton  mass 
ur  from  nose  ti[t 
led  is  the  hetter 
id  grow  from  w 
i  Hear  sleeps  on 
intr  of  the  cold. 
yes,  he  is.    'i'lif 
1   icy   caves  aiul 
iey  sens,  and  1" 
and  linnt  dttwii 
idong  the  sliom 

(d<    of    tootii  illl'l 
stealing  heliini 
i/.ing  tliem  wluii 
s.     Over  all  i1h| 


111 


^ 


Polar  Bicah  and  Skal. 


■f 


• 


HI 


UNDER    THE  POLAR   STAR 


281 


laiuls  and  seas  of  ice  this  Bear  is  king  of  fonrfoots. 
Of  man,  too,  he  was  king,  when  man  meant  only  the 
Eskimo  armed  witli  a  knife  and  spear.  Then  Bear 
hunting  v.as  dangerons  indeed, —  hlow  for  blow,  tooth 
against  knife-blade,  arm  of  muscle  tipped  with  long 
claws  against  brittle  harpoon.  Now  a  long-range  rifle, 
keen  eyes,  and  a  steady  hand,  have  turned  the  peril 
from  man  to  Bear,  and  soon  the  great  hungry  beasts 
will  have  left  the  Arctic  twilight  as  the  Bison  left 
the  prairie.  Snow  may  be  her  bed,  but  the  she  Jiear's 
heart  beats  warm  and  lovingly  for  her  cubs,  —  or  rather 
cub,  for  she  usually  has  but  one,  —  and  she  will  let  her- 
self be  killed  before  man  or  beast  may  touch  it. 

"Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  go  the  Bear's  feet  through 
the  snow,  leaving  the  even-planted  print  of  lieel  and 
too,  as  a  man's  foot  does.  Now  follow  them  round 
Hudson's  liay,  across  tlie  north  coast,  turning  south- 
ward down  Alaska.  Then  crossing  Behring  Strait,  go 
on  to  wliere  ice  floes  go  through  the  chains  and  dots  of 
islands  to  the  Pribilofs,  where  in  summer  there  are  no 
iiigiits  and  in  winter  moonlight  is  daylight,  the  islands 
where  tlie  sealskin  jacket  lived  when  it  was  at  home, 
for  I  can  guess  that  this  jacket  was  once  the  covering 
of  tliree  baclielor  Seals  !  " 


'  i 


'4 


■  ?• 


m»«,Mtim»iMMiMaamtmmmimimtAki^timfttmm 


.      '1 

^          :-^. 

XX 


A   SEALSKIN  JACKET  AT  HOME 

lE  now  leave  dry  land,  though 
when  one  follows  the  Polar 
Bear  over  the  caked  ice, 
who  can  tell  if  it  is  earth, 
rock,  or  frozen  water  tliat 
lies  underneath. 
iji.  j  '*•  The  tribe  of  fin-footeil 
■  -.jwrtff^  ]  watermen  (^IHnnipedii)  live 
on  tlie  frozen  sea  edges  and 
islands  from  Labrador  around  the  north  coast  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  The  Polar  Bear  spends  tlie  chief  part 
of  liis  time  on  thf^  ^and,  going  in  fishing  and  swimming 
for  pleasure ;  but  tliese  watermen  pass  most  of  their 
time  in  the  water  where  their  food  is,  floating  Avitli 
drifting  ice  Hoes,  and  hauling  up  on  the  islands  to  rest 
for  a  time  in  summer  wlien  tiieir  cu))s  are  born." 

"  Why  do  you  say  liauling  up  ?"  asked  Nat.  "■  Haven't 
these  beasts  legs,  and  can't  they  walk?  In  my  spelling 
book  it  says  liaul  nutans  to  pull  or  drag." 

"It  says  rigidly,"  answered  Olaf,  "for  these  beasts 
drag  tliemsclves  wlien  on  hmd,  and  their  legs  are  not  as 
the  limbs  of  Deer  or  Hear,  l)ut  fli[)])ers  set  deep  in  tlie 
flesh,  shaix'd  half  like  tlie  lins  of  a  fish.  To  see  them 
it  seems  impossible  that   tliev  should  move  at  all,  eitluT 

282 


!   >' 


A   SEALSKIN  JACKET  AT  HOME 


283 


in  ^^'ate^  or  on  liiiid.  Four  kinds  of  these  fin-footed 
ones  I  know,  for  two  of  my  three  cokl  northern  years 
1  lived  where  they  are  killed.  Pah !  it  was  a  cruel 
country,  reeking  with  smells,  and  mine  was  a  loathsome 

living. 

'•These  four  watermen  are  named  the  Walrus,  the 
Sea  Lion,  the  Sea  Bear  or  Fur  Seal,  and  the  Harbor 
Seal.  Of  these  the  Walrus  is  king,  if  size  and  ancient 
name  make  royalty.  Jiack  in  the  legends  of  my  coun- 
try this  'Whale  Horse,'  as  he  was  called,  of  the  Atlantic 
coast  is  pictured,  and  one  was  taken  to  good  King 
Alfred's  court  by  Otliere,  the  Viking.  What  they 
thought  of  it  I  do  not  know,  but  those  were  the  days 
when  men  believed  the  sea  peopled  with  monsters  and 
saw  mermaids  riding  on  the  waves,  and  fashioned  the 
Unicorn  upon  their  shields  from  memory  of  that  spike- 
nosed  Whale,  the  Narwhal,  that  they  had  doubtless 
seen  stranded  upon  some  northern  beach.  But  no 
dream  beast  could  match   the  Walrus  in  homeliness. 

"  Look  at  the  picture  of  this  lump  of  fat,  flesh,  and 
bones  —  it  is  the  giant  of  the  coast,  those  on  the  Pacific 
shore  growing  larger  than  their  Athintic  brothers.  Is 
he  not  monstrously  ugly?  Twelve  feet  and  more  from 
nose  to  rumj),  twelve  feet  and  more  in  girth.  The  huge 
wrinkled  neck  sui)porting  a  small  head  with  small  eyes 
and  two  long  tusk  teeth,  while  the  rough  whiskers 
on  the  snout  look  like  seaweeds  clinging  to  a  water- 
mossed  rock.  What  has  the  beast  to  help  him  either 
swim  (»r  walk  ?  Four  lind)s  so  deeply  sunk  in  flesh  and 
skill  tliiit  you  see  only  five-fingered  hands,  wearing  skin 
mittens.  These  serve  well  for  paddles,  and  their  owner 
ran  rest  almost  upright  in  the  water,  floating  easily,  for 


28-1 


FO  Ult  -  FOO  TED  A  ME  RICA  NS 


I 


all  about  his  chest  and  neck  are  layers  of  oily  fat  or 
blubber,  which  make  a  life  raft  of  hiin,  while  his  thi(;k, 
tough  hide,  scarred  with  wounds  from  rocks,  harpoons, 
Bears'  claws,  and  the  tusks  of  rivals,  keeps  him  from 
growing  water  soaked  and  chilly,  lie  is  warm  blooded, 
and  yet  able  to  stay  under  water  half  an  hour  at  a  time 
without  coming  up  to  breathe. 

"  How  does  he  feed  tliis  great  body  of  his,  and  lay 
up  the  layers  of  fat  that  draw  his  hide  in  creases  like 
seams  in  rocks  ?  By  digging  clams  and  water  roots, 
scraping  mussels  and  other  shell-fish  from  the  kelp  beds 
with  his  tusks,  and  he  also  uses  these  tusks  as  hooks  to 
help  in  pulling  liimself  over  the  rocks  and  shoals  of  tlie 
summer  breeding-grounds." 

"  Why  doesn't  he  eat  seaweed?"  said  Dodo.  "1 
should  think  it  would  be  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to 
open  clams  enough  to  feed  such  a  'mense  thing  !  " 

"All  of  this  tribe  of  Pinnipeds^  as  the  Wise  Men  call 
them,  live  chiefly  on  animal  food,"  said  tlie  Doctor, 
"  tiieir  teeth  showing  them  to  be  flesh  eating  or  car-niv- 
o-rou8^  but  Olaf  will  tell  you  that  they  do  not  stop  to 
open  tlie  clams  —  they  are  not  so  dainty  in  their  iisli- 
ing  as  the  Crows  !  " 

"No,  they  swallow  them  by  the  bushel,  shells  iiiid 
all,"  continued  Olaf.  "If  it  hurts  them  or  not,  wlio 
can  say,  for  they  tell  no  one  their  secrets,  but  it  may 
be  tliat  they  are  complaining  when  they  cry  and  roar. 
as  they  do  at  all  times  of  the  year,  with  a  growling 
lioidv  tiiat  might  be  tlie  call  of  a  wild  goose  goldiii. 
Sometimes  in  the  spring  and  early  summer,  the  season 
of  cool  fog  on  the  northwest  breeding  islands,  I  have 
stood  on  a  clilt'  and  could  not  tell  by  sight  alone  if  it 


»f  oily  fat  or 
ile  liis  thu'k, 
ks,  luirpoDiis. 
!ps  him  from 
rai'in  blooded, 
lOur  at  a  time 

E  his,  and  lay 
in  creases  like 
I  water  roots, 
the  kelp  l)eds 
ks  as  hooks  to 
\  shoals  of  the 

tid  Dodo.     "I 

of  trouble  to 

ise  thing  1 " 

Wise  Men  call 

id  the   Doctor, 

ting  or  car-nil'- 

do  not  stop  to 

y  in  their  lisli- 

hel,  shells  and 
jni  or  not,  wlio 
t'ts,  but  it  may 
y  cry  and  roar. 
ith  a  growling 
d  goose  goblin. 
nner,  the  season 
>  islands,  1  have 
sight  ah>iie  it  it 


-.;»V 


^..i .■i<».^^^j^^     .  ■■iitinai'l^- 


m 


Enf»t  Stfon  THam'fKon 


%'■  ^ 


I  rt 


I 
I 


I 


Atlantic  Waluus. 


a 
I 


1 

F 

A   SEALSKIN  JACKET  AT  HOME 


285 


\vas  ocean  all  about  me  —  then  I  would  hear  their  honk 

below,  different  in  key  from  the  roar  of  the  Sea  Lion." 

"  Aren't  they  awfully  fierce  beasts  to  meet  ? "  asked 

Kap. 

"They  look  fierce,  and  when  killed  with  spear  or 
liarpoon  may  give  the  whaler  or  Eskimo  some  scars 
or  crush  him  by  rolling  their  ton  weight  on  him,  in 
their  terror  to  get  back  from  land  to  sea.  But  that 
is  all,  and  how  can  such  a  piece  of  clumsiness  long  es- 
cape extermination  if  he  is  hunted  persistently  with 
the  rifle  ?  " 

"Are  they  good  for  much  ?"  asked  Nat.  "  Of  course 
vou  couldn't  use  that  ugly  skin  to  make  fur  coats,  a-nd 
(liiddy  says  that  the  oil  from  wells  in  the  ground  is 
easier  to  get  nowadays  than  animal  oil." 

''We  could  do  without  them  well  enough,  but  they 
mean  food  and  clothes,  heat,  light,  and  life  itself  to  the 
poor  Eskimos.  Even  with  the  Walrus,  life  to  them  is 
I  not  easy;  without  him  it  means  awful,  slow  starvation. 
Listen  to  what  the  Walrus  gives.  First  of  all,  his 
[coarse  meat  is  the  Eskimos'  beef,  their  only  change 
from  fish,  for  many  of  them  live  out  of  the  range  of 
Bear  meat  and  dare  not  venture  through  the  Barren 
Grounds  for  the  Musk  Ox.  Walrus  meat  is  eaten  fresh 
and  also  packed  away  as  food,  for  all  the  year  Tts  oil 
Iffives  liim  liglit  and  fuel  also  in  that  treeless  hini." 

'Oh,  then  the  Eskimos  have  oil  stoves,  the  same  as 
Ive  do  !  "  cried  Dodo.  "I  wonder  if  th'.y  make  the 
Ichoky,  smoky  smell  that  the  one  does  in  daddy's  dress- 
ling  room  ?  " 

"They  burn  the  oil  without  the  stove,  and  the  smoky 
Bmell  is  very,   very    large,"  said   Olaf,   spreading   his 


!  11     ' 


286 


FO  Uli-FOO TED  AMERICA NS 


11 


hands  wide  apart  and  wrinkling  his  face  as  if  he  re- 
menil);ji'ed  a  very  bad  smell.  "  Next  to  the  oil  in  value 
conies  the  hide.  When  it  is  stretched  and  well  (hied 
it  makes  a  fine  cover  for  boats,  that  is  stronger  to  stiiiul 
the  sharp-edged  ice  than  any  wood  conld  be  ;  the  hide 
also  serves  to  make  harness  for  the  Eskimo's  slt;(l<Te 
dogs.  The  strong  sinews  of  the  back  make  thongs  for 
bird  and  iish  nets,  boot  laces,  and  thread  for  sewiiirr 
boat  covers  and  clothes.  The  gullet  or  throat  is  used 
for  boot  legs,  with  the  flipper  bottoms  fitted  on  fm 
soles.  The  intestines,  which  are  perhaps  sixt}-  feet 
long,  are  cut  in  strips,  and  when  stretched  and  dried 
are  sewn  together  to  make  the  waterproof  clothing  that 
these  i)eople  wear  in  their  fishing  and  hunting." 

"Oh,  dear,  how  much  the  jjoor  ICskimo  women  must 
have  to  sew  I  "  murmured  Dodo,  '"•and  what  long  si'iuiis; 
I've  seen  Mammy  liuu  take  those  v.'ormy  looking  iiisides 
out  of  a  cliicken,  and  even  they  were  ever  so  long  I" 

'•'i'lie  tusks,  tliough  ol"  a  poor  (piality  (►f  ivory,  senv 
many  |»urposcs,  not  the  least  of  them  being  to  (liidc 
away  for  s\u;\\  iron  and  steel  articles  as  the  lOskiiim 
needs  l)ut  ciinnot  make.  Now  you  can  well  undcistiuiil 
how  he  (M)uld  not  livelong  without  the  beast  tliat  vieliN 
him  so  much.  IJut  greedy  peo[)le,  who  have  many  ittlin 
ways  to  make  a  living,  do  not  think  of  this,  and  lit  diii 
st(»am  vessels  that  (^an  go  everywhere,  with  guns  lliai 
(ill  from  far,  and  take  from  the  Kskimo  his  all. 

"This  Walrus  is  a  lirst  cousin  to  the  Sea  hciir  ni 
Fur  Si'al  «)!'  the  jacket,  ami  wc  must  go  down  tin 
Hehring  Straits  to  catch  Jiim  in  his  home.  Down  piM 
the  St.  Iwawri;ncc  and  Si.  Matthew  Islands,  tlu^  \Viilrii> 
summer  haunts,  we  come  to  the  I'ribilof  Islands,     St! 


A   SEALSKIX  JACKET  AT  HOME 


287 


Paul  iiiid  St.  (leoi'ge,  —  where  I  spent  tliose  two  years 
of  iiiuch  disofiist  !  " 

''  Wluit  does  Pribilof  mean  ?  "  asked  Nat.  "  It  sounds 
[IS  if  it  iniglit  be  the  Indian  for  pretty-far-off";  where- 
upon Dodo  huighed  in  o>reat  glee  and  said, — 

"I  sliall  always  eall  those  the  Pretty-far-off"  Islands, 
for  it  is  a  true  name  for  them  and  mucli  easier  to 
i'eint'nil)er  tlian  tiie  other.  1  missed  tiiat  last  week  in 
my  geograpliy  lesson  !  " 

"  I'rihylov  was  the  name  of  the  Russian  ex[)lorer  who 
discovered  this  group  whieh  now  belongs  to  us,"  said 
Dr.  Hunter  ;  "his  ship  the  St.  Geon/e  giving  the  name 
lo  (Hie  of  the  islands.  These  islands  were  too  far  off' 
siiore  for  Indians  to  reaeh  them,  so  that  tlie  Sea  Rears 
and  Sea  Lions  lived  there  in  peaee  until  the  eoming  of 
liviUzed  people  a  little  more  thiMi  one  liundred  years 
aLfo,  hut  sinee  tlien  tlie  cry  has  been,  '  Kill  I  kill  !  kill  I 
—  bulls,  cows,  cubs,  everything  ! '  —  the  IJuffalo's  story 
aijaiii,  but  this  time  carried  out  to  sea  until  tlii^  [nnn\ 
persecuted  water  brothers  are  the  cause  of  dis[»ute  be- 
tween nations,  and  it  seems  that  soon  notbing  will  be 
left  of  lliem  but  the  v^ery  fxnicH  of  content  ion  !  " 

"Wasn't  it  awfully  cold  on  these  islands,  Olaf?" 
asked  Uaj). 

"Not  HO  c(dd  as  cm  the  mainland,  far  less  c(dd  than 
you  woidd  think,  for  the  warm  I'acilic  current  tlows 
around  them.  In  midwinter,  it  is  true,  ic(!  tloes  c(nne 
from  (lie  north  and  bush  the  song  of  the  surf  on  the 
lieaclies,  yet  it  is  not  so  keenly  «'old  as  it  is  here.  With 
•hiiie  conies  summer,  for  there  ai'e  no  half  seasons  like 
your  spring  and  fall.  In  winter  there  are  no  days,  in 
siunnier  no  nights." 


288 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"It  seems  quite  right,  too,"  said  Nat,  "for  in  a  ]tliice 
like  tliat  there  can't  be  many  leaves  to  sprlnj  u[)  iiiid 
fall  down  again." 

"  Summer  is  the  season  of  cool  fogs  and  mists  tliiu 
shield  the  Seals  from  the  sun  and  keep  them  cond'ort- 
able  while  on  land.  In  fact,  the  summer  weather  is  like 
your  autunni  season." 

"Then  it  is  no  wonder,  fis  one  story  says,  thiit  tlip 
Seal  tribe,  ages  ago,  going  from  its  Aniarctic  lioinc  (in  a 
swinnning  excursion,  should  have  found  these  islands  a 
pleasant  camping  spot  and  passed  word  of  it  to  all  tlu'ir 
relations,"  added  Dr.  Hoy. 

"  What  do  you  call  the  peojde  on  these  islands,  riicl;' 
Roy  ?  "  asked  Nat  —  "  Eskimos  or  Indians  ?  " 

"They  are  Aleuts,  one  of  the  lowest  northwest  hihcs 
of  Indians  and  akin  to  Eskimos." 

"Now,"  continued  Olaf,  "picture  to  yourself  a  fine. 
full-grown  male  Fur  Seal  as  he  comes  up  on  the  Innil 
tlie  last  of  May  to  select  the  s([nar(^  of  shore;  he  wislies 
for  his  sinnmer  home,  lie  is  not  more  than  live  or  six 
years  old,  wiiich  is  th(^  prime  of  Seal  life.  He  is  uioiv 
clever  than  tlie  Walrus,  moves  more  easily,  and  incus- 
ur«?s  al)out  seven  feet  from  tij)  of  nost;  to  whiM'e  liis  tail 
would  be,  if  it  had  not  forgottim  to  grow.  At  lliis  tiiiir, 
fresh  from  tlie  feeding-grounds,  h(!  is  fat  and  sIkmiIu 
weigli  liv(!  Iiiindred  i)ounds.  His  head  is  small,  but  tin 
eyes  huge  and  speaking.  Ht;  \vears  a  long  nuistiitln, 
but  it  is  of  bristles  and  not  like  that  of  the  Wiiliiis| 
and  be  has  a  way  of  closing  his  nose  and  ears  in  swii 
ming  to  keep  waler  ont.  The  neck  is  long  and  tlivl 
shoulders  are  thick,  and  he  is  a  better  shape,  nut  slDp- 
ing  HO  much  aft  aH  the  Walrus.       His  fore  linil>s  luv 


A    SEALSKIX  JACKET  AT  HOME 


289 


for  in  a  i>la(;e 
qjrinr/  up  and 

11(1  luists  llr.u 
tlicm  comfoit- 
weatUer  is  liko 

says,  tl\iil  tilt' 
L'ctic  \\o\\w  (>n;i 

tiiese  islands  ;i 
)f  it  to  all  llit'iv 

ie  islaiuls,  I'ml'' 
i\us  : 
iiortliwest  trilifs 

youi'self  11  iiiu'. 
up  on  tlu'  liuiil 
shore  he  wislu's 
than  live  or  six 
ll'(>.      lie  is  inoiv 
usily,  and  mtw- 
to  where  liis  tail 
^v.      At  thistiiiK 
^  Tilt   nnil  slinulu 
is  snuilK  i'»t  tlu' 
I  lontj;  niusti\cln^ 
i,|-  the  WaliiN 
lul  ears  in  swim- 
is  loni;-  ai»<l  tli'' 
sliai>e,  not  slop- 
is  fore  Uiul)H  \w 


merely  a  pair  of  bl  irk  gloved  hands,  but  his  hind  feet 
iirc  wider,  like  a  drawn-out  human  foot  spread  at  right 
alleles  from  its  body.  lie  uses  these  fore  flij)pers  in 
walking  (piite  like  legs,  and,  though  he  shuttles  along, 
(Iocs  not  cling  and  erawl  like  the  Walrus.  His  hind 
nippers  propel  him  through  the  water  like  paddles. 


Ska  liKAR  OH  Fur  Skal. 

'•The  mule  wears  two  eoats,  like  most  fur  beasts. 
One  of  shining,  strawlike  over-hair,  the  otlier  the  soft 
uniler-fur  we  see  in  jaekets.  At  tlie  first  glances  you 
would  siiy  that  this  Seal  is  dark  brown  in  color,  with 
siMiic  wiiitc  or  gri/.zly  liairs.  'I'he  female  is  n>uch 
smaller,  not  measuring  moi-e  tlian  live  feet.  Siie  is  less 
tliimsy  and  of  more  grnceful  shapes.  Her  head  is  well 
foniKd  and  she  has  gentle,  lustrous  eyes.  Her  skin, 
wht'ii  wet,  varies  in  color  from  beautiful  deep  gray  juid 
u 


lEiSiCiit^s" 


I 


It 


290 


FOUli-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


whitish  underneath,  to  tin  ashy  l)rown  mantle  and  huffy 
belly,  when  dry. 

"  From  early  May  until  the  middle  of  June  the  Seals 
come  from  their  winter  feeding-grounds  and  haul  upon 
land.  The  males  come  first,  each  striving  for  the  place 
lie  likes  best  and  fighting  fierce  battles  with  his  rivals 
to  seciure  it.  Thus  it  happens  that  the  strongest  Seals 
keep  the  best  f)laces  near  the  water's  edge,  and  tlic 
weaker  are  driven  further  inland. 

"  When  the  females  come  in  late  June  or  early  .fulv. 
only  a  day  or  so  before  their  cubs  are  born,  tliere  is 
fierce  war,  each  male  Seal  seizing  the  mates  he  wislus 
to  come  and  live  in  the  scpiare  of  ground  he  calls  liis 
house,  lifting  them  as  if  they  were  only  so  many  kit- 
tens.    Thus  it  hai)pens  that  those  strong  ones  near  the 
shore  secure  a  houseful,  while  those  iar  up  have  hard 
work  to  find  even  one  mate.     Then  there  is  always  a 
herd  of  roving  ba('heh)rs,  young  Seals  and  those  who 
have  no  homes  oi'  mates,  who  go  together  in  a  separate 
place  to  spend  the  summer.      The  law  holds  that  these 
bachelors  are  the  only  ones  that  should  be  killed  fdi 
fur,  and  that  uo  guns  or  dogs  shall  aid  in  their  killiiii,', 
If  this  law  had  been  kept,  then  would  the  tribe  still 
hold  its  own. 

"The  fur  of  this  Sea  Hear  nnist  be  taken  in  June  or, 
July,  before;  the  winter  coat  is  shed,  or  in  early  aiitiii 
when  the  new  coat  is  f  •esh,  for  the  law  says  these  ii 
uials  may  not  be;  taken  on  American  ground  bet\veeii| 
October  and  .lunc." 

*'  IJut   supitosc!  [)eo[)le   fidlow  them  and  kill  them  in 
the  Wiit(M'  and  shoot  the  females,  too,  —  what  Iiapim 
then?  "  asked  i{a[). 


J 


A   SEALSKIN  JACKET  AT  HOME 


^91 


Lie  and  \)att'y 

une  tlie  Seals 
11(1  liiiul  upon 
.  for  the  place 
itli  his  rivals 
Di-ongest  Seals 
edge,  au<l  tlu" 

5  or  early  .luly. 
born,  there  is 
ivates  lie  \vislK's 
aid  he  calls  liis 
[y  SO  many  l^it- 
ig  ones  near  tlio 
ir  up  have  havd 
lere  is  always  a 
and  those  wli" 
un-  in  a  sepaviilc 
liohls  that  tliesf 
,\d  be  Ivilled  U 
.  in  their  VW^^K 
Id  the  trihe  still 

tiikenin  .TumM.i 
L.  in  early  autumii 
[w  says  these  iuii- 
ground  hetwm 

and  hill  tl>em  ii 
L  __xvhat  li'-nr' 


'•'I'louble,"  said  Dr.  Hoy.  "Trouble  between  nations, 
unwise,  angry  words  in  tlie  newspapers,  and  the  killing 
out  (>r  Seals  !  " 

"  1 1'  Seals  may  not  be  chased  with  dogs  or  shot  at, 
how  are  they  caught?  "  asked  Olive. 

"Tliey  are  driven  up  to  the  killing  gronnds,  as  pigs 
or  cattle  are  driven  to  the  slaughter  liouse  I "  said 
Olaf,  "and  in  this  way  it  is  done. 

"The  l)aehelor  Seals,  who  are  chiefly  those  under  five 

or  six:  years  old,  live  by  themselves,  and  lie  near  the 

water  and  sleep  soundly,  but  in  the  homes  or  rookeries 

lliere  is  noise  and  tumult  all  night.     These  bacheku's 

sleep  on  the  beach,  one  close  to  the  other,  like  rows  of 

tiles  upon  a  roof   top.      Down  go  the  drivers,  native 

Islaiulers,  and  take  their  stand  hetween  the  water  and 

[the  Seals,  who,  being  awakened  and  seeing  the  men  be- 

jtweeii  them  and  the  water,  start  landward,  thinking  to 

escape,  and  so  are  driven  up  1o  the  killing  places  near 

the  villages,  where  the   Seal  families  will  not  he  dis- 

[tiubeil  hy  them." 

Isn't  it  very  slow  walking?"  asked  Dodo. 
Ves,  very;  for  though  a  Seal  can  run  a  few  yards, 
lu'  can  walk  safely  only  half  a  mile  an  hour,  and  the 
Jlrivers  nnist  he  careful  not  to  hurry  the  Seals,  or  the 

tieat  inak(>s  their  fur  drop  off  and  spoils  the  pelt." 
"If  a  Seal  is  driven  too  fast  He  gasps  and  has  to  sto[) 

[lid  fan  liimself,  for  Seals  have  no  sweat  glands  to  cool 

jiT  the  l»l(i(»d,  and  can  <udy  pers[)ire  hy  panting,  like 

lo^'s,"  said   Dr.  Roy. 
"Cure  must   be  taken   not    to  kill  very  young  Seals 

Iso.     A  Seid's  skill  is  best  when  it  is  three  or  four  years 

ill.  aflei'  ihat  it  grows  uneven  and  ragged.     The  pelt 


292 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


I 


is  taken  quickly,  as  soon  Jis  the  animal  is  dead,  lest  it 
heat  and  the  fur  loosens.  Is  it  ready  then  to  make  a 
coat?  Ah,  no;  it  must  be  dried  and  sent  awav  for 
skilful  hands  to  pluck  out  the  long  rough  hairs  tliat 
cover  the  soft  fur,  and  then  they  dye  this  under-lur  to 
tlie  soft  color  that  you  know,  tlie  color  of  tliat  jacki't 
that  has  in  it  the  pelts  of  three  Seal  bachelors.  Of 
the  killing  of  tlie  Seal  I  will  not  speak,  oidy  to  sav 
that  1  could  not  harden  myself  to  it  and  so  I  caiiic 
away. 

"Meanwhile  what  happens  in  the  rookeries?  The 
male  Seals  roar  and  light  among  tiiemselves,  tlie  ynuiio' 
are  born,  and  the  cows  go  daily  to  the  sea  for  fodil. 
sometimes  staying  all  night  and  leaving  the  snckiiiins 
hungi'v,  for  the  cows  are  poor  mothers,  not  caring  mudi 
for  their  cubs.  The  males  are  brave,  however,  and 
light  most  iiercely  to  defend  their  homes.  So  jealoiish 
are  these  homes  guarded,  lest  any  rival  should  toiuli 
their  families,  that  the  males  will  not  leave  to  go  down 
to  the  sea  for  their  food,  and  so  they  stay  on  land  ami 
starve  all  sunnnei".  In  the  autumn,  when  housekoejiinci 
is  over,  they  are  thin  and  wrettdied,  having  used  up  nil 
their  fat,  like  the  IJears  at  the  end  of  winter." 

"  Mow  strange,"  said  Olive,  "the  Hear  goes  witliniiij 
eating  in  winter  and  the  Seal  in  summer  !  " 

"They    suffer   greatly   in    hot    weather,"    contiiiiieil 
Oluf  ;  "you  may  seo  them  lying  on  their  sides  faniiiiij 
themselves  with  their  hind  flippers,  or  find  the  feniaki 
as  soon  as  the  young  have  learned  to  swim,  slccpiiii,'!! 
the  water  with  only  their  nostrils  out.     This  lialiit 
floating   and   sleeping   makes  them   an   easy  prey  tV 
Sharks  and  the  lierce  Killer  Whales.      Even  on  lai 


SEALSKIN  JACKET  AT  HOME 


293 


i  dead,  lest  il 
en  to  mi\l<e  a 
ieiit  awuv  for 
ig\i  liaii's  lluit 
is  uiHlev-i"uv  to 
of  that  jacla't 
\)aclielovs.    (M' 
\k,  only  1«>  say 
and  so  1  ciinu' 

ookevies  ?     Tlio 
elves,  tbe  yoini'^ 
.lie  sea  fov  fond 
ucr  the  s\i('klii»:4s 
,  not  caving  muili 
^-e,  liowevev,  ami 
lies.     Soiealously 
•vl  sliould  touoh 
leave  to  go  *^'>^^" 
stay  on  land  aii<l 
•hen  lionsekceimic 
,,^vinguse(lui.;ill 

winter." 

r.ear  goes  Nviti^oiii 

ner  • 

vatiiev,"  <^^>^»^">'^"^' 
their  sides  fanniiv: 
>,  iind  tiie  fonvaW. 
,  SNvin^  sleeinuiJ" 
^^t.  Tins  i>ai)lt< 
an  easy  l>vey  i' 
les.      Kven  on  Va 


LV 


(lio  Seal  sleeps  so  soundly  that  1  have  crept  up  'ind 
i>ull('d  his  wliiskers  hefore  lie  awoke.  In  August  the 
homes  hreak  up,  all  is  in  an  uproar,  and  the  'choo-clioo- 
choo"  call  of  the  female  sounds  loud  ahove  the  surf, 
though  it  is  I)ecend)er  hefore  the  last  male  has  left  for 
the  winter  feeding-grounds. 

"The  Fur  Seal's  brother,  the  Sea  Lion,  haunts  these 
sanu!  islands,  though  he  is  hunted  elsewhere  with  Otter 
spears  and  guns,  lie  is  useful  cliietiy  to  the  natives  of 
tlie  Aleutian  Islands,  giving  them  all  that  the  Walrus 
yields  tlie  Eskimo. 

"The  California  Sea  Lion  looks  much  like  a  male 
Seal,  hut  his  neck  is  straight  and  thinner  and  Ids  front 
tlippers  are  cased  in  mittens  without  even  a  thund), 
while  the  Seal,  you  see  by  the  i)icture,  wears  shoi't- 
tiiio-L>iv(l  gloves.  Tliis  Sea  Lion  wears  no  fur,  but  is 
ciivered  witli  short  hair,  wliich  varies  in  color  with  the 
season  from  yellow  to  dark  hrowu.  His  voice  is  a  deep 
lion's  roar  tliat  can  l)e  heard  above  the  storm,  and  his 
food  is  almost  like  the  Seal's,  —  fish,  shell-fish,  crabs, 
and  a  few  sea-birds.  His  flesh  is  not  bad  eating,  and 
tlie  fat  and  blubber  are  without  the  evil  smell  that 
makes  the  Si^al  so  sickening  to  liandle. 

"This  Sea  Lion  is  shy,  keener  of  eye  and  ear  than 

the  Sea   Hear,  and  must  be  hunted  by  moonlight,  the 

hiving  season  being  early  autnnni.     When  tlie  Lions 

wake  suddenly,  like  the  Seals  they  start  to  escape  the 

ivay  they  hiipi)en    to    face,    some    going    seaward,   the 

thers  being  slowly  driven  up  to  the  villages,  for  they 

an  only  ('ree[)  and  Inddde  along,  and  they  hav  none  of 

|lie  tdeverness  of  the  Fur  Seal.      These  also  we  will 

ave  at  the  killing  grounds  ;  to  follow  tliem  would  only 


U  ■  1-  I 


i 


294 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


sadden  you.  But  we  know  at  best  they  are  useless  to 
us,  and  trouble  tlie  Fur  Seals  by  worrying  tlieni  iind 
disj)uting  their  breeding  grounds,  so  the  Aleuts  aii' 
welcome  to  them. 

"  Another  waterman  there  is  that,  even  now,  you  nuiv 
see  for  yourselves  some  day  about  a  rocky  harbor  or 
river  mouth.  He  wears  hair  and  no  fur,  and  he  is  tlio 
true  Seal,  not  the  Sea  l>ear.     He  is,  or  was,  common  to 


IIakbuk  Skal. 

all  coasts,  and  has  many  names,  —  Sea  Dog,  Hair  SimI 
Common  Seal,  or  Harbor  Seal." 

"  Harl)or  Seal  is  the  name  that  Wise  Men  prefer." 
said  Dr.  Koy  ;  "  and  when  my  father  was  a  youuo-  ninii 
these  Seals  haunted  the  rocks  of  New  York  harl»oiiii 
great  nundjers.  Uobbins  Jieef,  that  we  have  so  oftm 
passed,  Olive,  was  (;alled  after  these  Seals  by  Diittli 
sailors,  robyn  meaning  Seal   in   iheir  language." 

"I  knew  not  that,"  said  Olaf ;   '••but  in  s[)ring  llitvj 
herd  about  Newfoundland,  having  their  young  in  Mii 
and   June,   but   going  to   the  warmer  sea   islands  i 


A   SEALSKIN  JACKET  AT  HOME 


295 


tre  useless  to 
ii<T  tliem  and 
te   Aleuts  aio 

now,  you  may 
cky  harbor  ov 
,  and  he  is  tlip 
as,  common  to 


Doo-,  Hair  Seal. 

ise  ^len  prefer." 
was  a  youno-  uwii 

York  liarluu'  iii 
Nve  have  so  o{tin| 

Seals  by   Huuli 
lani^uag-e." 

ut  in  spvini^  ^^'^1 
eir  young  in  ^l'^ 
^eu  sea   islands  « 


winter.  They  are  beautiful  little  Seals,  with  dull 
yellow  skins,  often  handsomely  mottled  with  black, 
sucli  as  they  cover  trunks  with  in  my  country ;  and 
among  the  Greenlanders  it  is  said  the  women  love 
the  skin  above  all  others  for  miking  trousers." 

'•  Do  savage  women  there  wear  ticusers,  the  same  as 
some  women  do  here  when  they  ride  bicycles  ?  "  asked 
Dodo,  much  to  her  uncle's  amusement. 

"I  have  not  seen  those  savages  here,"  said  Olaf ; 
''  but  up  in  the  north  land  women  must  dress  much  like 
men,  or  they  would  surely  freeze. 

"  The  Harbor  Seal  cow  has  a  gentle,  half-human  face, 
and  a  better  heart  than  the  Fur  Seal.  She  is  a  kind 
motlier  also  to  her  single  cub,  protecting  and  loving  it, 
and  grieving  if  it  dies.  These  seals  are  shy  beasts,  too, 
and  are  never  caught  in  great  numbers,  even  though 
llieir  flesh  makes  the  best  seal  beef.  They  lead  lonely 
but  happy  lives,  catching  sea-birds  and  tishing  and 
sporting  in  the  water  with  their  families. 

"  Now  we  will  leave  these  watermen  and  hurry  back 
home  across  country  lest  the  ^  Day-I)ream  Fox  '  grows 
.sleepy  and  the  real  Dream  Fox  finds  us  far  from  home, 
and  we  have  to  lie  out  in  the  snow  like  the  Polar 
Bear." 

Then  Olaf  blushed  and  looked  down,  as  there  was 
a  ela))[)ing  of  hands  and  everybody  thanked  him  for  his 
story. 

'•It  will  be  my  turn  to  clap  at  you  to-morrow  night," 
he  said  bashfully  to  Nez. 

"1  didn't  think  the  watermen  would  be  half  so  inter- 
esting," said  Hap  :  "•  and  it's  almost  ten  o'clock  already." 

"  We  nnist  light  the  tree  once  more,  have  our  supper 


:n  ! 


296 


FO Uli-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


and  songs,  then  to  bed,  and  see  who  will  wake  first  to 
say  'Merry  Christmas'  in  the  niornhig,"  said  the  Doctor. 

Av.  Blake  began  to  pick  at  his  banjo  and  play  a  lively 
jig,  accompanied  by  Olaf  with  his  fiddle.  Instajitly 
Nat,  Dodo,  and  the  Brownies  began  to  skip  about,  Xez 
keeping  time  by  slapping  his  knees. 

"Let  me  have  your  violin,  Olaf,"  said  ]\lrs.  Blake. 
"  I  can  play  that  tune,  and  1  am  sure  that  you  can 
dance  a  sailor's  hornpipe." 

Blushing  up  to  the  roots  of  his  light  yellow  hair,  Olaf 
stepped  into  the  space  cleared  for  him,  and  danced  all  tlie 
intricate  in-and-out  steps  with  a  will.  As  he  finished, 
a  slight  noise  turned  all  eyes  toward  the  passageway, 
and.  there  was  ]\Iammy  Bun  doing  side  steps  and  ii 
double  shufifle  all  by  herself,  in  spite  of  rheumatism. 
So  the  music  ended  in  a  shout  of  laughter,  and  Maminy 
waddled  off  to  bring  some  light  supper,  followed  by 
Nez  and  Olaf  as  waiters,  while  ^Ir.  Blake  threw  a  bas- 
ketful of  pine  cones  on  the  fire  to  make  a  final  blaze. 

jJi  ijt  Alt  ^)L  ^LL 

"Now  for  our  Christmas  hymn,"  said  the  Doctor. 
when  the  dishes  had  been  cleared  away,  the  tree  stood 
in  darkness,  and  only  the  firelight  danced  along  the 
walls  and  on  the  strange  mixture  of  faces,  —  wliitu. 
black,  and  bronze. 

Mrs.  Blake  went  to  the  window  and  threw  back  the 
curtains ;  the  warmth  had  melted  the  frost  on  the 
panes,  and  the  starlight  shone  in  clear  and  bright.  Mi. 
Blake  took  Olaf's  violin  and  drew  a  few  notes  from  it, 
and  then  the  hymn  rang  out,  Mrs.  lilake,  Mainim, 
Olive,  Dodo,  and  the  boys  beginning,  the  Doctor  and 
Mr.  lilake  answering  :  — 


A   SKALSKiy  JACKET  AT  HOME  297 

"  Wiitchmau!  tell  us  of  the  night, 
AVhat  its  signs  of  promise  are. 
Traveller  !  o'er  you  niomitain's  height 
See  that  glory  beaming  star  !  " 

'J'he  children's  voices  warbled  as  sweet  and  fresh  as 
the  notes  of  birds ;  even  the  Brownies  caught  up  the 
tune,  though  the  words  were  unknown  to  them.  As 
they  linished  the  last  verse,  Olive  opened  the  long  win- 
dow softly  and  the  snowy  hills  showed  clearly  in  the 
piercing  starlight.  Then  she  whispered,  "  Wish  the 
stars  a  '  Merry  Christmas,'  and  let  peace  and  happiness 
ill  at  the  window !  Mother  taught  me  to  do  it  when  1 
was  a  little  girl." 

''  Merry  Christmus  I  Bress  de  chile  !  /  remem- 
bers !  "  cried  ]Mammy  Bun. 

Then  they  went  to  bed,  and  Billy  Coon,  who  had 
been  crouching  behind  the  chimney  and  was  entirely 
forgotten,  came  out  to  forage  for  more  popcorn. 


.m  » 


'U 


i  I 


\ 


XXI 


m  -^' 


r 


BiM, 


HOKNS,    PllONGS,   AND  ANTLERS 

HRISTMAS  was  a  perfect  win- 
ter's day,  witli  no  wind  and 
no  thawing  ;  a  day  for  sleigli, 
sled,  or  snow-shoes.  Snow- 
shoeing  being  the  very  new- 
est amusement,  Olive,  Nat, 
and  Dodo  practised  wulkinif 
for  so  long  that  at  night  tlieir 
feet  were  quite  tired  and  sw^ol- 
len  with  their  elf orts  to  keep  up  and  the  cutting  of  the 
thongs  ;  so  they  were  glad  to  hobble  to  tlieir  places  by 
the  campfire  as  soon  as  supper  was  over.  As  to  tlie 
Brownies,  the  novelty  and  excitement  of  seeing  so 
many  people  quite  overcame  them,  and  they  stumbled 
from  the  supper  table  to  bed. 

"  What  pictures  will  yon  choose  ?  "  said  Dodo  to  Nez; 
"because  you  promised  to  tell  us  a  story  to-night." 

"  A  picture  of  a  Moose  !     A  good,  big  Moose  on  tlie 
rampage  will  about  do  for  my  story,"  answered  Nez. 

"  Here  is  one  running  very  hard,  with  steam  blowing 
out  of  his  nose,"  said  Rap ;   "•  but  please,  Nez,  before  j 
you  begin  the  story,  Avon't  you  tell  us  about  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  antlers  tliat  the  Deer  wear,  juul  Avliy, 

2t)8 


lIOltNS,   PllONGS,   AND  ANTLERS 


299 


5  us 

s  a  i3ei*fect  win- 
1  no  wiiul  and 
I  day  for  sleigh, 
-shoes,      ^now- 
tlie  very  new- 
it,    Olive,    Nut, 
■actised  Avalkiiig 
at  at  niglit  their 
Q  tired  and  swol- 
le  cutting  of  the 
their  places  by 
,ver.     As  to  the 
nt   of   seeing  so 
id  they  stumbled 

aid  Dodo  to  Nez; 
•y  to-night." 
)ig  INIoose  on  the 
answered  Nez. 
th  steam  hlowini; 
liase,  Nez,  hefuw 
AS  about  the  dif- 
r  wear,  and  Avhy. 


if  they  are  shed  every  year,  some  pairs  are  so  much 
bigger  tlian  others.  1  always  used  to  think  that  the 
antlers  staitl  on,  and  grew  bigger  and  bigger  every 
year. 

"'  You've  eaught  me  there,"  said  Nez.  "  1  know  the 
o'iiuie  I've  shot  and  how  1  got  it,  and  that  Deer  do  shed 
their  horns  ;  but  you'll  hev  to  ask  tlie  Doctor  all  those 
reasons  why." 

''  This  is  as  good  a  time  as  any  to  make  a  procession 
of  horns,  prongs,  and  antlers,  and  look  at  them  care- 
fully as  they  go  by,"  said  Dr.  Roy.  "Olive,  please 
take  out  the  pictures  of  lieads,  horns,  and  antlers ;  also 
the  drawings  of  the  INIoose  and  the  American  Deer,  and 
tiie  group  of  the  Elks  chased  by  the  Cougar,  tliat  we 
had  several  weeks  ago,  and  also  the  Caribou  picture 
that  we  had  last  night.  • 

''You  remend)er  tliat  the  first  division  of  the  meat 
family  wore  hollow  horns  like  a  cow's,  which  were 
made  of  hairy  fibre  and  grew  around  a  solid  core,  and 
that,  though  they  were  of  many  sizes  and  curved  in 
different  ways,  they  were  never  branched  or  divided. 
Nat,  can  y(ju  tell  me  the  names  of  our  four  wearers  of 
horns,  without  looking  at  the  pictures  ?  " 

"Yes,  1  remember  them  all,  —  the  IJison,  Bighorn, 
Mountain  (ioat,  and  the  INIusk  Ox." 

"  Now,  Dodo,  do  you  remember  tlie  one  whicli,  though 
it  belono'cd  with  the  Deer  to  the  second  division  of  the 
meat  family,  had  pronged,  hollow  horns,  and  shed  them 
every  year  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes ;  the  one  that  you  stepped  on  when  you 
went  from  one  part  of  the  family  to  the  other  —  step- 
ping-stone you  called  it;   Antelope  or  Pronghorn  is  its 


ff' 


Ij 


300 


FO  Ult-FOO TED   .  I MER ICA  XS 


iiiiiue.     See,  I  can  put  my  finger  on  ihe 
picture  without   loolving    tit    tlie    print- 


mo- 


f    V 


V 

ANTJ'U.orE. 

Mountain  Ooat 


"  Hrtivo  I  Now  we  come  to  tlie  Deer 
/  family  itself  ;  all  of  its  members  wear 
antlers  of  solid  bone  —  bone  with  no 
hollows  in  it,  or  marrow  like  the  other 
bones  of  the  Deer.  See  how  many  dif- 
ferent shapes  we  find  among  these  antUns. 
^  I^ook  first  at  one  thing  —  the  enhiruud 
knot  or  burr  where  the  antler  braiiclics 
fnmi  tlie  liead." 

"'•  Yes,  I  see,"  said  ( )live  ;  "  it  is  roiiu'li. 
and    swells   out  something  like  a   joint. 
It  looks  as  if  the  antler  wcru 
fastened  on  there." 

"This  is  the  place  Avlieiv 
tlic  old  one  se|)arates  when  it 
ripens  and  falls  off,  and  wlii'ie 
the  new  antler  s[)routs." 

"  Does  it  Ideed  and  limi 
the  Deer,  the  way  it  docs  td 
have  a  to(»th  out  '/ '"  iiskcii 
Dodo,  who  lia<l  I'cccntly  shed 
her  two  up[)er  front  tcctli. 

"  Tliat  depends  uixin  liow 
H'ady  the  antlers  arc  to  full, 
If  they  arc  (piitc  dry  and 
ri|»c,  they  separate  easily  ami 
bleed  very  little  ;  but  if  tlitv 
are  knocked  off  by  a  lilnw, 
or   lorn    fnau    their    seckiU 


I 


Ml  .SK  (»X. 


nORXS,   PliOXC:,,   AND  ANTLEli.S 


301 


:  '» it  is  VI tu",'!!. 


when  the  Deer  lock  and  entangle  their  antlers  in  light- 
ing', as  they  often  do,  then  the  stump  bleeds  profusely 
and  causes  pain.  In  either  ease  a  sort  of  plaster  of 
vuiiis  and  thick  skin  soon  grows  over  the  wound.'' 

"  Tiiese  antlers  are  the  same  as  teetii,  tlien,"'  said 
Dodo,  solemnly  ;  "one  of  mine  tipped  over  itself  and 
scarcely  bled  at  all  or  hurt,  hut  the  other  luid  to  be 
jerla'd  with  a  string,  and  it  bled  lots  I  " 

"Or  more  like  leaves,"  said  Olive.  "Don't  you  re- 
iiK'iiilier  the  great  leaves  on  tlie  magnolia;  in  the  sum- 
iiuT,  tliey  hekl  fast  to  the  branch  and  sap  came  out  of 
the  socket,  but  after  the  lirsi  frost  tliey  dropped  of." 
themselves,  leaving  a  little  dry  scar?" 

••Oh,  yes,  I  do,"  said  Kap.  "  How  soon  after  the  old 
aiith'r  is  shed  does  the  new  one  grow,  Doctor?  \'ou 
Slid  tiie  Antelope's  new  horn  was  sprouting  under  the 
ohl  oni'  wlien  it  fell  oft'." 

"  With  tlie  true  Deer  there  is  a  time  of  rest  rs  there 

is  with  trees,  and  the  antler  does  not  begin  to  sprout 

;  until  s[)ring,  when  the  Deer  finds  fresh  green  food  once 

more.     'I'hen  tlie  veins  and  skin,  \.  hieh  covered  the  scar 

that   llie  (dd  iiutk'rs  kd't,  begin  to  sv  ell   like  a   darl<- 

cohned  l)ubblc,  tiie  straight  beam  of  the  antler  appears, 

and  alter  a  time  begins  to  l)rancli  at  tlic  top.     It  goes 

on  t,ndwing  until  midsummer,  tine  after  tine  developing, 

a'coi'diug  to  the  age  of  the  animal.     As  yet  tln^  whole 

antler  is  covered  by  the  lilm  (d'  skin-covered  v(dns  that 

have  enlarged  with  it  and  aid  the  inside  veins  in  supply- 

|ini,Mlie  bone  food  needed  for  such  I'apid  growth.      Iji 

|ti)  this  time  tint  outside  of  the  antler  is  rough  ami  has 

II  furtiMl  IVelin<:  to  the  toU(di:  'bidng  in  the  vtdvi't  *  this 

is  railed. 


302 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"The  antlers  are  now  liardening  fast,  and  tlie  Deer 
rub  tlieni  against  tree  trunks  and  on  tlie  ground  until 
this  velvet,  being  no  longer  needed,  peels  off  in  strips 
and  dries  away,  leaving  the  smooth  polished  bone  in 
early  autumn,  when  the  antler  has  attained  its  complete 
growth. 

"Now  comes  the  answer  to  your  question,  Rap,  about 
tlie  various  sizes  of  antlers.     The  first  pair  on  a  younir 
Deer  are  usually  straight  beams  witii  few  tines,  but  tliev 
increase  in  size  eacli  year,  the  wonderful  pairs  we  jiear 
of    belonging  to  very   strong   Deer  upward  of   six  nr 
seven  years  old,  the  size  depeiuling  botli  on  streiigtli 
and  age.     The  end  and  aim  of  tliis  wonderful  growth 
seems  to  be  to  furnisli  the  jealous,  quarrelsome  still's 
with  weapons  for  lighting  eacli  otlier  during  tlieir  roiiit 
ing  season,  wliich  is  in  autunni ;  for  sliortly  after  this 
mating  time  the  shedding  begins,  though   some   IKvi 
keep  the  antlers  nuich  longer  than  others,  and  Muoso 
usually  siied  theirs  some  time  before  Klk.     As  you  look 
at  the  various  heads,  you  will  see  that  the  antlers  diffn 
in  shape.     Those  of  the   American    Deer  and  VAk  iiiv 
tlie  most  alike,  both  being  lined,  but  the  l)cam  of  thi 
American   Deer's  branches  outward  and  forward,  ami 
tiio  beam  of  the  l^lk's  outward  and  backward.     TlR'se 
two   D(!er  also  have  eom[)a('t,  trim  feet,  with  the  liiiil 
toes,  called  dew  claws,  set  well   up;   but  these  clovdi 
hoofs  cut  tlirough  the  snow  iind  nuikt;  them  vcrv  liolii- 
less  in  seasons  of  deep  drifts. 

"Tlie  Moose  and  the  Woodland  (\iril)ou  arc  \h' 
somewhat  evenly  paired.  The  Carihou,  as  you  havi 
seen,  wears  (urious  antlers,  curving  and  l)i'nding  cvtivl 
wliich  way,  forward  and  back,  with  ootli  tinctl  and  Itil 


!1 


,,  and  the  Deer 
le  ground  \iiitil 
;ls  oft'  in  strips 
jlished  bone  in 
led  its  eoni[)lt'te 

tioii,  llap,  iibout 
pair  on  ii  young 
sv  tines,  but  they 
L\i  pairs  we  hear 
)ward  ot   six  or 
otb  on  strenj^tli 
onderful  growlli 
uarrelsouie  slii|4> 
iring  their  ami 
shortly  at'ti!r  lliis 
ouu'h  some   Dm 
liers,  and  Moose 
Ik.    As  you  h)uk 
the  anth'rs  (hftVr 
)ec^r  and  I'^lk  iiiv 
(he  beam  <>i"  ll'f 
nd   forward  mi'l 
,iU!k\var(h     'Hiw 
t,  with  the  liiii'l 
hut    tliese   elovcii 
V.  tlii'Ui  very  \\v\- 

(^ivibou  are  iiU 
il.ou,  as  yii  Imv' 
iiid  l)en(lin;^-  evn 
,th  tim'ti  aii'l  I'll 


1.  ^VouI)I-\^l»  CvuiiJuL'.         2.  M< 


;i.  Ki.K. 


4 

f 


HORXS,   PItONGS,   AND  ANTLERS 


303 


I    1 


shaped  (or  as  the  Wise  jSIen  say  palmate')  ends,  while 
the  Moose  wears  his  wliolly  palmate,  standing  out  wide 
behind  his  ears  like  sounding  boards,  and  sometimes 
spreading  six  feet  from  tip  to  t.p  and  having  forty 
points.  The  foot  of  the  Moose,  too,  is  more  loose  and 
shul'lling,  like  the  Caribou,  though  it  does  not  form  a 
coiiii)lete  snow-shoe.  The  greatest  point  of  difference 
ill  these  two  is  in  their  ears,  the  Caribou  having  very 
small  and  the  Moose  very  large  ones. 

''  liook  again  at  these  four  Deer :  two,  the  Elk  and 
American  Deer,  are  always  beautiful  when  at  rest  and 
(Ti'aei'i'ul  in  motion;  while  the  other  two,  the  Moose 
and  (*aribou,  are  interesting  and  curious,  but  ponderous 
and  awkward.  Your  first  thought  regarding  a  ]\Ioose 
must  always  be  of  wonder  as  to  why  his  ears  are  so 
lonsf,  how  he  came  by  his  sv.'ollen,  overhanging  nose, 
calh'd  the  muffle,  and  the  hairy  "bell'  hanging  from 
his  throat,  for  wliicli  no  one  luis  discovered  the  use  ; 
whih'  the  Caribou's  legs  seem  uneven  and  you  wonder 
if  his  antlers  grew  on  his  heiuL  <  r  wlutlier  tliey  were 
made  <>f  i)ieees  picked  uj)  and  glued  logether  at  random. 
A>;aiii  tiie  four  may  be  divided  into  j)aiis  according  to 
the  liaiints  they  seeiv.  Tiie  Ameri;:an  \)i'\iv  and  the  Elk 
or  \Vai)iti,  i*t,e  park  land  an<l  woods  with  running 
\vater  nnd  liigli  shade  ;  the  Moose  aiid  Cariltou  seek 
low  ground,  marshy  tiiiekcts.  and  the  neighborhood  of 
lidxes  and  ponds,  enduring  eohl  better  than  their  grace- 
ful hrotliers. 

The  Moose  is  the  largest  Deer  in  the  world,  aii!! 
(luile  as  homely  as  l.e  is  larsre  ;  he  stands  six  feet  at 
the  shoulders,  Ids  head  is  long  like  a  donkey's,  and  hi^i 
large  cars  are  far  down,  buck  of  the  small  eyes.     His 


ao4 


PO Uli-FOOTEi)   A MER WANS 


jtuly  is  short  aiul  sot  on  four  long"  lugs;  tlio  front  1(  <j^s 
being'  long'or  tliiiii  the  back,  give  it  a  sort  of  hump  at 
the  shouhlers.  Tiie  winter  coat  is  dark  brown  above, 
witli  thiclc  under-fur  of  a  lighter  cohjr,  and  the  liair 
hangs  loose  and  manelike  about  the  neck;  the  sunnufr 
coat,  however,  is  soft  and  fine.  As  to  the  female,  iin- 
agine  a  very  large,  long-legged  donkey  cut  out  of 
faded,  weather-beaten,  brown  Canton  flannel,  uiid 
stuffed  rather  scantily  with  straw,  and  you  will  have 
an  idea  of  Madam  Moose ;  but  her  mate  finds  her 
beautiful,  lights  for  her,  and  is  very  Jond  of  her. 

"This  grotesque  beast  once  ranged  through  all  tlie 
northern  stiites  and  territories  of  this  country,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  tlie  I*acili( ,  bei  ween  the  frontier  state:' 
and  territories  U[)  to  th  .  land  of  the  I'olar  IJear.  Xow 
its  rHiigt  hits  shrunk  on  every  side  ;  there  are  a  few 
in  the  Nortiieast  and  otliers  in  the  l»ig  game  country 


from    the    Y^iUowstoiUi    Park    nortiiward. 


'V\ 


ley   are 


vaiiisliing  fast,  however,  and  their  solitary  habits  and 
haunts  \\\o\\v  Iiave  saved  them,  for  thi^y  feed  ever  in 
sheltered  jilaces,  tlieir  food  being  coarse  grass  and  water 
phiiits,  while  in  winter  they  Itrowse  on  ti'cc  buds  and 
even   evergreen   branches,  which   their   heiuht   al 


tl 


K'.n  to  rcacli  casilv.      Moos(>    hide   was    the    Indi; 


lows 
Ills' 


f*;ivorite  h-atiicr  for  moccasins,  and    Moosi'  meat  tlieir 
standby  next  to  IJiiffalo  beef. 

"Next  in  si/*'  to  ilie  Moose  comes  the  Mlk,  or  \Va|iiti 
as  the  Wise  \\('n  say.  il  (L"  Moose;  must  be;  com|»ai('(l 
to  a  doidvcy  in  looks  and  vdicc.  the  male  lOlk  lias  cer- 
tainly all  the  grace  and  |»ois(!  of  a  beautiful  horse. 
I  lis  head  is  delicate  and  shapely,  the  antlers  evenly 
balanced  and  carriecl   high,   the  eyes  full  and  restless, 


HORNS,   PRONGS,  AND  ANTLERS 


305 


tlio  fi-Diit  It  'j;s 
t  of  liuuip  lit 
brown  iil)ovo, 
ami  the  li;iir 
;  the  summer 
le  female,  iiu- 
y   cut   (»ut  of 
flauiiel,    and 
you  will  hiive 
ivate  tiiKls  I'er 
,  of  her. 
hvough  all  llie 
cour.ti-y.  fnim 
frontier  stiito:' 
ar  liear.     Now- 
here are  a  few 
ivanie  rouiitrv 
i.      They   are 
ary  habits  inul 
feed  ever  in 
rrass  and  water 
tree  ])uds  and 
heit^-ht    allows 
the    Indians' 
)se  meat  their 


•( 


IS 


I'.lk,  <»r  Wap'"' 

1st  bi!  coniiiarcl 

ilr   l-:ik  has  tri- 

icantifnl    iioisr. 

iiiitlers  cvfiily 

ill  and  restless, 


the  shaded  brown  body  round,  shapely,  and  set  firmly 
on  the  legs.  The  bull  Elk  stands  five  feet  at  the 
shoulders  and  often  grows  to  weigh  half  a  ton,  though 
the  females  are  far  lighter.  The  Elk  has  a  thick  skin 
and  heavy  winter  under-coat  of  fur.  His  flesh  yields 
line,  rich,  satisfying  meat,  and  his  tallow  is  prized  in 
wood  cookery.  But  when  we  praise  his  personal  beauty, 
we  Imve  said  our  best  word  for  the  bull  Elk,  at  least. 
His  temper  is  extremely  disagreeable,  and  he  is  selfish 
iiiul  !it  times  cruel,  both  to  his  mate  and  the  young 
I  fawns,  driving  them  away  from  the  best  fodder  and 
])laying  the  tyrant  in  every  way. 

"  The  Elk  once  ranged  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  half-way  up  through   the   British 
I'rovinces  ;  but  wild,  shy,  hating  the  sight  and  sound  of 
}uan,  they  retreated  westward  very  quickly  as  the  coun- 
try stittled,  and,  leaving  the  plains  and  prairies  to  the 
Hison  and   Antelope,  settled   in   the   mountain   parks 
wliere  the  water  supply  ^vas  good.     In  and  about  the 
Yellowstrne  Park  there  are  many  herds  of  Elk,  perhaps 
numbering  50,000,  and  their  cast-off  antlers  are  so  plen- 
tiful in  that  region  that  long  lines  of  fences  are  made  of 
tliem,     But  as  they  often  seek  winter  food  and  shelter 
out  of  the  bleak  park  in  a  place  called  .hickson's  Hole, 
I  pot  liuiiters  have  a  clianee  to  capture  them  almost  in 
si«,'ht  of  (lovernment  protection.      IJeady  as  they  are  to 
I'lit  any  kind  of  vegetable  food,  even  to  gnawing  bark 
from  trees,  they  fare  poorly  in  winter,  simu)  their  range 
jlias  been  shut  in  on  every  side,  and,  weakened  by  lack 
lof  food,  they  often  starve  :md   freeze   in  considerable 
immbers,  their  skeletons  being  found  where  tliey  have 
lain  down  in  a  group  and  been  too  weak  ever  to  rise. 


306 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


^^B 


"  Our  last  Deer,  the  Virginia  Common,  or,  as  it  is 
now  to  be  called,  Aiierican  Deer,  is  the  daintiest  and 
most  lovable  of  all.  Each  one  —  stag,  doe,  or  fawn — is 
equally  beautiful  whether  lying  in  some  vine-shaded 
haunt,  sauntering  toward  a  brook,  standing  in  a  clear 
pool,  as  if  looking  at  its  own  image,  or,  when  startled, 
flying  over  the  fallen  logs  and  underbrush,  as  if  its 
little  feet  scarcely  touched  the  ground. 

"  Its  home  is  North  America  at  large,  if  we  leave  out 
the  far  north,  so  that  its  name  is  very  suitable.  Even 
to-day,  in  spite  of  persecution,  there  are  but  few  states 
which  have  not  a  family  or  two  of  these  gentle  creatures 
hidden  away  in  some  wood  or  valley.  To  me  this  Deer. 
fine  as  its  flesh  is,  has  always  seemed  more  of  a  pet  than 
a  game  animal  —  more  like  some  intelligent  though  sliv 
friend  tlian  a  creature  to  be  hunted. 

"  I  have  never  shot  one,  even  under  bitter  stress  of 
hunger,  without  regret,  and  if  I  stopped  to  think  of  its 
appealing  eyes  and  sensitive,  quivering  nose,  the  morsel 
of  venison  for  whicli  I  had  worked  so  liard  would  fairly 
choke  me.  To  adapt  a  famous  verse,  —  '  Its  beauty  j 
gives  it  the  right  to  live.'  Hunger,  desperate  hunger, is 
the  only  excuse  for  killing  such  animals  as  these,  and 
as  hunger  makes  man  a  savage,  we  must  then  expeitj 
to  ilud  savage  instincts  in  liim. 

"  Three  feet  high  at  the  shoulder  is  this  little  Anitii 
can  Deer,  and  the  best  runner  among  our  fourfodts 
It  is  (piite  hardy,  and  may  be  seen  in  its  high  wiiit(;| 
haunts  feeding  as  clieerfully  on  buds,  moss,  or  beed 
nuts,  pawed  Inboriously  from  under  deep  snow,  as  wlmi 
in  its  ri(!h.  suninier,  river  [)asturage  of  marsh  L-TasNl 
water  plants,  and  bei'ries.    Almost  all  wild  animals  \m 


HORNS,   PRONGS,  AND  ANTLERS 


307 


.1,  or,  as  it  is 
daintiest  and 
5,  or  fawn— is 
e  vine-sliacled 
ing  in  a  clear 
when  startled, 
rusli,  as  if  its 

• 

if  we  leave  out 
uitable.      l^veii 
but  few  states 
gentle  creatures 
fo  nie  this  Deer. 
ore  of  a  pet  tkn 
gent  thougli  sliy 

f  bitter  stress  (if 
d  to  think  oi  its 
nose,  tiie  luovsel 
ard  would  fairly 
^^.^__-'lts  l)eauty 
sperate  hunger,  is' 
als  as  these,  iiuil  | 
uust  then  expeet 

this  little  Auu'ii' 
g  our  fouvfnot>' 

ui  its  iug^»  ^vi"^^' 

Is,  moss,  or  Ijeecli' 

ocp  snow,  as  \vii<i 

,e  of   niavsli  \^^ 

lUvildamuuasl"V< 


n 


water  in  warm  weather,  and  the  Moose  and  American 
Deer  revel  in  it,  taking  to  bathing  and  swimming  like 
small  boys. 

"  This  little  Deer  has  slim  legs,  a  slender  body,  and  a 
wedge-shaped,  white-lined  tail  for  its  danger  signal. 
Its  summer  coat  is  rich  and  varies  from  rust  color  to 
buff,  while  with  its  winter  coat  its  ruddy  beauty 
changes  to  sombre  grays  and  browns,  like  the  moult- 
ing of  its  meadow  mate,  the  Bobolink. 

"  TJie  does,  who  wear  no  antlers,  are  devoted  to  their 
young,  and  if  you  ever  see  one  of  the  soft-eyed  mothers 
tending  one  or  two  tiny  spotted  fawns,  either  in  the 
wild  country,  or  in  a  Deer  park,  I'm  sure,  hoys,  that  you 
would  never  wish  to  point  your  gun  at  them.  You 
think  a  calf  or  a  colt,  a  puppy  or  a  kitten  amusing  in 
its  gandiols,  but  for  pretty  ways  no  animals  are  so 
attractiv^e  as  these  spotted  fawns." 

"  Do  Deer  sleep  the  winter  sleep  ?  "  asked  Dodo,  who 
was  growing  tired  of  what  she  called  "plain  facts,"  and 
wished  the  story  part  to  come ;  "  and  do  these  pretty 
Deer  fiu'ht  for  their  mates  like  the  others  ?  " 

"Tliey  do  not  sleep,  neither  do  any  of  the  family; 
but  1  nuist  confess  that  they  fight,  and  sometimes 
fiercely  to  the  death.  Several  times  their  skeletons 
liave  been  found  with  antlers  locked  so  tightly  that 
|tiie  Deer  could  not  part  or  feed,  and  must  have  died 
Kif  hunger,  and  1  have  read  of  three  heads  being  found 
leked  thus  together.  Now  that  you  have  had  your 
iiiots,  we  will  beg  Nez  for  his  story." 

''Only  one  more  question  please,  Doctor,"  said  Rap. 
['Will  Doer  ever  chase  House  People  or  toss  them  on 
[heir  antlers?" 


f   t 


308 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"A  wounded  Deer  brought  to  bay  Avill  sometimes 
hurt  his  pursuer,  but  there  is  no  real  danger  to  he 
feared  at  any  time  of  the  year  except  during  their  mat- 
ing season  in  autumn.  Then  with  their  powerful  lull- 
grown  antlers  and  quick  tempers  they  are  not  oiih- 
equipped  and  ready  to  light  each  other,  but  anything 
else  that  crosses  their  path,  using  their  feet  as  well  to 
strike  and  trample.  But  even  then,  they  have  such  a 
dread  of  the  scent  of  man  and  gunpowder  that  they 
seldom  interfere  with  him." 

"  Come,  Nez,  it  is  vour  turn  now  !  " 


-ill  sometimes 
danger  to  \)e 
•ulig  tlieir  inivt- 
powerful  lull- 
■   are  not  only 
,  but  anylUiiig 
feet  as  well  to 
^ey  have  sucli  a 
wder  that  they 


XXII 


NEZ'   BIG   MOOSE 


jVKE  say  yer  won't  like  my  story," 
said  Nez,  shyly,  as  he  leaned  for- 
ward toward  the  '''e,  tipping 
up  the  bench  on  aicli  he  was 
seated,  and  began  whittling  a 
miniature  tent-pin  from  a  scrap 
of  pine  kindling  that  had  fallen 
on  the  hearth  ;  for,  in  spite  of  his 
years  of  tramping,  he  had  never 
conquered  tlie  nervous  Yankee 
habit  of  keeping  his  hands  busy.  He  did  not  raise  his 
jliead  as  he  spoke,  but  seemed  to  be  talking  to  the  fire 
I  more  than  to  the  people,  his  words  being  such  a  dialect 
niixture  that  the  children  had  to  listen  well  to  under- 
Istand  him,  and  I  am  sure  if  they  Avere  to  be  spelled 
[quite  as  they  sounded,  you  would  never  be  able  to 
Ireiid  them. 

"  IVe  seen  enough  Deer  in  my  day  and  tried  heaps 
3f  ways  of  huntin',  some  fair,  some  ornery,  some  mean, 
1(1  some  meaner ;  but,  lookin'  back  on  it,  there's  only 
[)iie  way  of  huntin'  and  one  beast  worth  huntin", — that 
Jvay  is  stalkin'  and  follerin',  and  that  beast  is  jNIoose! 
)f  course  I  don't  mean  huntin'  to  feed  yer  camp  or 
rurself.  Feed  huntin'  is  different,  —  anything  yer  can 
|at  and  anyway  to  get  it  goes  then. 

309 


in 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


y 


11.25 


■so 


a 

2.2 


III 


840 


2.0 


PhotDgra|iiic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


^ 


^^^ 


i\ 


\ 


13  WMT  MAIM  tTMIT 
WIMTIR.N.V.  )4SI0 

(71*)  •7a-4»03 


^^•^^ 


> 


i\ 


o^ 


[I      ^ 


)  -'I 


}inr 


310 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  'Long  about  ten  years  ago,  when  I  was  raound  out 
Montana  way,  Elk  huntin'  was  good  'nough  fer  me. 
I  didn't  mind  chasin'  over  rough,  bust-up  ground  then, 
or  climbin'  mount'ins  as  high  as  trees  grew.  Elk 
weren't  so  hard  to  git,  winter  or  summer,  for  they  go 
in  sort  of  flocks,  and  when  you'd  see  one  you'd  likely 
strike  a  bunch,  but  Moose  are  lonesomer  and  only  travel 
in  slim  families.  In  summer  all  you  needed  for  Elk 
was  a  little  know-how  and  a  long-range  gun,  for  though 
they're  scary  beasts  they  are  kind  of  stupid  'bout  some 
things,  and  don't  put  two  and  two  together  as  quick  as 
some  others.  While  they  are  a  figurin',  in  comes  yer 
shot.  Of  course  if  a  stag  sees  yer,  he's  likely  to  give  a 
whistle  and  set  the  bunch  runnin',  but  anyway  you 
can't  expect  fourfoots  to  wait  for  yer  to  come  up  and 
sprinkle  salt  on  'em,  any  more  than  birds. 

"Elks  don't  have  an  easy  life.  In  winter  the  poor 
things  come  down  to  git  in  warm  hollers  where  they 
could  paw  the  snow  away  and  find  grass,  and  if  the 
snow  was  deep  they'd  gnaw  bark  and  flounder  araoiuid, 
so  it  was  easy  gittin'  them.  Deer's  fine  huntin'  too,  if 
yer  go  at  it  right,  and  good  sport;  but  there's  too 
many  short  cuts  through  sneak  trails  that  folks  has  got 
in  ther  habit  er  takin',  and  then  braggin'  of  their  kill. 
—  it  jest  about  sickens  real  sportsmen  !  " 

"Please,  Nez,"  said  Hap,  "you  say  Moose,  Elk,  and 
Deer ;  aren't  Moose  and  Elk  both  Deer  ?  " 

"Yes,  o'  course  they  air  by  rights,  —  it's  only  a  way 
o'  speakin'.  Anywhere  I've  been,  if  yer  say  jest  Deer, 
without  any  other  handle,  it  means  common  Deer,  \'ir- 
gimiy  Deer,  or  what  Doc  calls  American  Deer,  because 
it's  the  one  best  known  from  Caiiady  to  the  (lulf.    A 


NEZ'   BIG  MOOSE 


311 


8  raound  out 
ugh  fer  me. 
ground  then, 

grew.     Elk 
',  for  they  go 

you'd  likely 
id  only  travel 
eded  for  Elk 
in,  for  though 
id  'bout  some 
er  as  quick  as 

in  comes  yer 
kely  to  give  a 
;  anyway  you 
3  come  up  and 

I. 

inter  the  poor 
;rs  where  they 
iss,  raid  if  the 
inider  araound, 
huntin'  too,  if 
)Ut  there's  too 
it  folks  has  got 

n'  of  their  kill 

I' 

doose,  Elk,  ami 

it's  only  a  way 
r  say  jest  Deer. 
imon  Door,  Vil- 
li Deer,  because 
o  the  GuK.    A 


woodsman  nor  an  Injun  never  says  Deer  if  he  means 
]\Ioo&e,  Elk,  or  Caribou,  Mule  or  Blacktail,  or  any  o' 
the  others." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  the  short  cuts  that  people 
sneak  through  ?  "  asked  Olive. 

"The  ways  o'  killin'  that  don't  give  the  beast  fair 
play,  and  are  more  like  butcherin'  than  huntin',  —  fire- 
huntin',  houndin',  jackin',  and  all  sorts  of  water  killin', 
runnin'  'em  down  on  snow-shoes,  waitin'  at  the  salt 
licks,  and  '  callin' '  for  Moose. 

"  Fire-huntin'  is  creepin'  out  in  the  dark  where  you 
think  there  are  Deer  by  a  pond  or  marsh,  and  flashin' 
a  torch.  If  there's  any  Deer  about  they'll  stop  still 
and  look  at  the  light,  and  their  eyes  ketch  the  shine  of 
it  so  you  can  see  'em  and  get  good  aim  and  shoot  'em  in 
the  head,  for  they  don't  see  anything  but  the  liglit. 

"Jackin'  is  'most  worse,  and  folks  use  it  on  Deer  jind 
Moose.  You  take  a  boat,  and  sneak  at  night  in  the 
shadders  raound  a  pond  where  they  wade  in  to  feed  on 
water-lilies.  You  have  a  covered  '  Jack '  lamp  on  your 
cap,  and  when  yer  hear  a  splash,  yer  turn  and  Hash  yer 
light  that  way.  Half  likely  yer'll  see  two  stars  close 
over  the  water,  and  they'll  be  Moose  eyes.  Then  yer 
can  shoot,  or  if  yer  feel  real  mean  and  ugly  and  can  git 
the  canoe  between  the  Moose  and  sliore,  you'll  make 
him  swim  fer  it  until  he's  tired,  and  then  kill  him." 

•  I  think  those  are  mean,  horrid  ways,"  cried  Dodo  ; 
"hut  I  suppose  of  course  only  wild,  savage  sort  of 
people  do  it?  " 

"  You're  mistaken  there,  young  lady,  ^fy  !  don't  I 
mind  down  home  in  Maine,  when  I  was  a  little  shaver, 
how  the  fellers  used  ter  come  from  the  cities  all  rigged 


mmmmm 


312 


FOUIt-FOOTEB  AMEIilCANS 


'i; 

i    ■    .   ' 

1  . 
1 

'^ 

1 

!,  -^  S^  i^i 

'  ilaK  If 

: 

J:H  ' 

L\i        ■ 

1  ff  ' 

•     .          : 

fm 

*  ^^9*' 

'f 

/ 


up,  and  calkerlatin'  to  git  jest  so  many  Deer  and  a  Moose 
or  two  in  jest  so  many  days.  Nothin'  would  do  but 
some  one  must  guide  tliem  to  the  Deer,  and  guide  the 
Deer  to  'em,  and  introduce  'em  with  a  gun  and  fire  and 
tricks,  —  the  quicker  all  the  better  for  those  'sports.' 

"  I  do  hear  this  guidin'  is  a  perfession  now  up  tliat 
way.  But  land  alive.  Doc  !  what  would  the  fellers 
West  call  that  kind  o'  guidin'  ?  —  the  ones  we  knew 
that  lived  at  Red  Ranch.  When  we  and  they  went 
huntin'  we  all  pitched  in  and  tramped  and  starved 
alike."  And  JMez  looked  into  the  fire  as  if  he  saw 
something  miles  away. 

"  But  your  first  big  Moose,  —  tell  us  how  you  caught 
him,"  reminded  Nat. 

"  Yes,  I'hi  workin'  raound  to  him.  It  was  that  fust 
season  that  I  was  lumberin'  in  the  Saskatchewan  coun- 
try, and  we'd  been  workin'  hard  gittin'  logs  ready  to 
haul  when  snow  come,  and  as  it  come  about  we  had  an 
off  spell  fer  a  week,  waitin'  fer  orders.  A  liglit  snow- 
fall come  'long  the  last  of  September,  and  old  Dom'nick 
Pardeau  and  me  allowed  to  git  a  Moose,  for  we  wine 
'bout  tired  o'  beans  and  bacon  in  camp,  and  most  of 
the  outfit  was  too  fresh  with  guns  to  do  better  than 
scare  game  away.  So  we  allowed  to  go  on  a  reg'lar 
Injun  still  hunt,  trackin'  and  watchin'  signs,  which 
wasn't  hard  then,  on  account  of  the  snow  that  took 
the  footprints.  If  you  want  huntin'  that  only  an  Injnn 
can  do  right,  try  to  follow  Moose  signs  in  plain  ground 
with  jest  moss  and  leaves  to  show  the  longish  prints. 
Of  course  we  had  to  hunt  this  way  in  day  time  and  try 
to  trail  the  Moose  to  his  bed,  for  they  feed  and  rove 
night  times,  and  hide  away  to  sleep  somewhere  soon 


NEZ'   BIG  MOOSE 


31S 


after  light.  It  was  the  season  for  call  in',  but  that  was 
night  work  and  I  hadn't  caught  well  on  to  that  then, 
though  I  did  it  seasons  after  when  it  wuz  my  turn  to 
keep  the  camp  in  meat." 

"  Is  there  a  season  for  calling  ?  Why  can't  you  do 
it  any  time,  day  or  night  ?  "  asked  Rap. 

"  Because  Moose  only  talk  and  shout  and  make  a 
noise  in  the  mating  season.  You  have  to  '  call '  in  the 
night,  because  if  it  was  light  the  Moose  would  see  you 
was  a  man  and  not  its  mate.  My  sakes  !  aren't  Moose 
keen,  though  !  Nothing  but  Wolves  can  beat  'em  at 
smellin'  and  hearin' ;  but  then,  look  at  the  size  of 
their  ears  !  " 

"  Yes,  and  their  noses,  too  ;  I  guess  they  were  made 
to  hold  extra  big  smell  boxes,"  said  Dodo. 

"They  can  smell  anything.  If  yer  reckless  with  a 
ciunpfire,  or  let  the  wind  carry  a  whiff  of  tobacco  even, 
you'll  see  no  Moose  that  day.  Then,  in  spite  of  their 
big  bodies  and  horns,  they  can  steal  off  on  those  long 
legs  o'  theirn  as  soft  as  a  Wildcat,  and  they've  got 
human  sense  enuff  to  lie  down  faciii'  their  tracks  to  see 
what  is  follerin'." 

"  They  have  very  long  legs,  to  be  sure,"  said  Kap. 

"  The  longest  of  any  beast  in  thi%  country  anyhow. 
Tliey  air  jest  made  handy  to  pasture  on  trees  and 
busli  tops  and  keep  above  decent  snow,  and  if  they 
want  a  mouthful  of  short  grass  they've  got  to  duck 
for  it.  Now  the  Moose  is  a  bog  trotter,  except  in  dead 
of  winter,  and  Dom'nick  and  me  allowed  to  go  down 
to  tlie  pine  swamps,  for,  though  it  was  cold  and  there 
was  some  ice,  the  Moose  hadn't  left  their  water  feed- 
in'  and  made  up  parties  to  yard  for  the  winter." 


314 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


/ 


"  Do  they  live  in  barnyards  in  winter  ?  "  asked  Dodo  ; 
"  and  if  they  do  who  feeds  them  ?  " 

"Not  much  they  don't.  Yards  are  places  where 
there  are  food  trees  and  bushes  growing  handy  so  that 
two  or  three  Moose  families  can  live  there  all  winter, 
treadin'  trails  through  the  snow  to  the  trees  to  feed, 
and  when  they've  eat  up  everything  they  can  reach, 
bark  and  all,  they  move  on.  This  time  when  Dom'nick 
and  me  started  out,  the  Moose  were  reckless,  as  they 
are  at  this  time  o'  year.  We'd  heard  them  crashin' 
through  the  woods,  beatin'  their  horns  in  the  buslies, 
and  callin'  in  the  night  araound  the  clearin',  for  they 
don't  seem  to  mind  the  noise  of  axes  choppin'  so  long 
as  no  one  fires  a  gun. 

"  We  tied  on  our  lieaviest  moccasins,  made  out  o'  tlie 
hind-leg  skin  o'  Moose,  took  our  rifles  and  small  packs, 
and  started  down  toward  the  ma'sh  land.  I  tell  you  it 
was  cold  !  The  fog  was  tliick  as  smoke  too,  but  it  let 
up  after  a  spell  and  then  began  to  snow  again.  After 
crossin'  raound  about  for  some  time  and  tryin'  to  keep 
headed  to  the  wind,  which  wasn't  easy,  for  sometimes 
it  wouldn't  blow  at  all,  and  then  it  would  whisk  up 
squally  from  anywhere. 

" '  Tracks  soon  be  covaired  !  See  here  Moose  vas 
been  !  Big  Moose  vary  angry,  tore  tree,  here  lum 
eat,'  said  Dom'nick,  wlio  was  a  Canady  Frenchy,  but 
talked  ch()pi)y  like  a  hiilf -breed.  ' 

" '  Yes,  but  all  that  wasn't  sense  last  night  when  tlie 
snow  come,'  said  I.  Jest  at  this  minit  we  struck  a 
trail  comin'  from  over  across  a  deep,  black  ma'sli, 
makin'  toward  tlie  liigher  wood.  Dom'nick  stooped 
down  and  looked  careful. 


NEZ'   BIG  MOOSE 


315 


"'Two  bull  Moose,  von  cow.  Big  Moose  found 
mate,  gone  over  wood,  home  to  big  marsh.  We  fol- 
low ;  maybe  hev  bad  time,  maybe  get  big  Moose.  Not 
talk  now  —  creep.'  So  then  we  crawled  on  and  on. 
It  stopped  snowin'  after  a  spell,  and  nigh  about  noon  I 
signed  to  Dom'nick  that  we'd  better  halt  and  eat. 
I  wasn't  as  used  to  the  snow^  and  cold  as  I  got  to  be 
later,  and  I'd  twisted  my  ankle  in  an  old  stump  and 
was  feelin'  pretty  mean. 

" '  Can  eat  walkin','  was  all  he  said,  makin'  off. 

"Pretty  soon  we  come  to  a  place  where  there  had 
been  a  Moose  fight.  Bushes  were  all  torn  up  and 
tramped  raound  about,  but  from  the  signs  it  must 
have  been  the  night  before  too. 

" '  You  see  ?  You  want  stop  to  eat  now  ? '  sneered 
Dom'nick,  forgettin'  I  was  young  in  the  bizness. 

"  I  tramped  and  stumbled  on  another  half  hour  and 
then  I  sez,  sez  I,  '  I'm  goin'  to  stop  riijht  here  and  eat 
and  make  a  fire  too ;  if  you  don't  like  it  you  can  go 
along.'  He  didn't  say  a  word,  and  he  didn't  stop,  nor 
even  look  araound.  I  bunched  some  dry  brandies  and 
started  up  a  little  blaze,  warmed  my  hands  and  eat  my 
chunk  o'  bread  and  bacon.  Then  I  stamped  out  the 
lire  and  looked  araound  wonderin'  if  I'd  foller  Dom'nick 
or  turn  about. 

"  I  was  jest  standin'  between  some  pine  balsams, 
}ifivin'  my  gun  a  wipe,  when  I  heard  a  crashin'  far  off, 
aH  if  a  storm  was  tearin'  down  trees;  but  there  wasn't 
any  wind  then,  and  the  snow  had  cleared,  yet  I  couldn't 
see  anythin'  comin'.  Crash !  crash  I  crash  I  nearer 
and  nearer.  I  grabbed  my  gun  and  waited.  I  could 
iiear  hard  breathin',  but  I  couldn't  tell  first  if  it  was 


f      I: 


■tammamiBBBm 


316 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


l' 


my  own  or  sometliin'  else's.  You  often  git  that  feeliii' 
when  yer  fresh  to  huntin'  and  hear  big  game  comin'. 
Pretty  soon  I  knew  the  breathin'  belonged  to  both  of 
us,  me  and  the  other  feller,  who  was  the  biggest  Moo;s(3 
I'd  ever  seen,  comin'  dashin'  along  over  old  logs,  snortiu' 
and  blowin'  like  a  sawmill  engine.  I  up  with  my  gun 
and  shot  for  behind  the  shoulder,  but  he  didn't  stoj), 
and  came  straight  on,  and  I  thought  sure  I  hadn't 
teclied  him  and  my  aim  had  gone  over  'cause  he  was 
comin'  so  fast.  I  couldn't  fire  again  ;  he  was  too  close, 
and  makin'  fer  me  furius.  I  looked  to  git  behind  a 
tree,  but  jest  then  he  fell  over  not  twenty  yards  from 
where  I  wuz. 

"  I  come  out,  when  I  saw  he  was  dead  for  sure,  aiic 
took  a  look.  He  was  shot  through  the  heart,  and  as 
fine  a  moose  as  anybody  could  want.  I  didn't  know  then 
how  tough  his  meat'd  be,  or  about  measurin'  horns  and 
countin'  spikes  in  those  times,  but  you  can  measure 
that  pair  now,  over  to  my  camp,  and  though  they're  old 
and  shabby,  they'll  tell  you  five  foot  eight  and  thirty- 
five  points.  Then  I  saw  there  was  blood  on  the  front 
of  his  horns,  that  couldn't  have  come  from  himself,  and 
I  began  to  wonder  what  had  become  er  Dom'nick.  I 
couldn't  lift  or  skin  the  Moose  myself,  so,  kind  er  set 
up  by  my  kill,  I  followed  Dom'nick's  trail. 

"  I  must  have  kept  on  four  or  five  miles,  when  tlie 
woods  sagged  down  to  swampy,  thick-covered  ground 
again.  Tlie  Moose  trail  was  clear  enough,  but  Dom'nick 
walked  to  head  him  off,  not  in  the  trail.  Then  I  come 
to  a  place  that  puzzled  me ;  the  snow  was  melted  by  a 
warm  spring,  and  I  had  to  pick  up  the  trail  again  on  the 
other  side.     While  I  was  thinkin',  I  heard  another  great 


t  that  feeliu' 
jame  comiii\ 
ed  to  both  of 
iggest  Moose 
logs,  snortiii' 
with  my  gun 
J  didn't  stop, 
lire  I  hadn't 
cause  he  was 
kvas  too  ch)se, 
git  behind  a 
y  yards  from 

for  sure,  aiic 
heart,  and  us 
n't  know  then 
in'  horns  and 
can  measure 
r\i  they're  old 
it  and  thirty- 
oil  the  front 
1  himself,  and 
Dom'nick.  I 
o,  kind  er  set 

lies,  when  the 

vered  ground 

but  Dom'nick 

Then  I  come 

IS  melted  by  ii 

1  again  on  tlie 

another  great 


D 
D 


6i 


NEZ'   BIG  JuOOSE 


317 


crashin'  and  thrashin'  in  the  bushes  a  little  way  ahead. 
I  listened ;  the  animal  that  made  it  wasn't  runnin',  but 
seemed  to  be  beatin'  around  in  one  place.  I  crawled 
along  careful,  lookin'  fer  trees  big  'nough  to  climb  if 
a  big  Moose  charged  at  me,  for  I'd  been  hearin'  tall 
stories  of  how  skeery  they  are  most  of  the  year ;  they'll 
fight  anythin'  or  anylDody  they  think  is  chasin'  their 
mate.  I  didn't  have  to  look  long.  Down  the  gap  I 
saw  a  Moose,  near  as  big  Jis  the  one  I'd  shot,  bangin' 
and  batterin'  away  with  his  horns  at  an  old  spruce,  and 
up  the  tree,  sittin'  on  a  rotten  old  branch  not  a  foot  above 
the  Moose's  reach,  was  Dom'nick,  without  his  gun  ! 

"  I  hurried  along  then  with  my  rifle  ready,  for  I 
reckoned  the  branch  he  was  holt  to  wouldn't  last  long, 
and  I  couldn't  git  an  aim  on  the  Moose  wliere  I  was. 
The  Moose  didu't  notice  me  a  bit,  though  I  made  some 
noise,  but  kept  poundin'  at  the  tree.  Then  I  fired,  but 
my  hand  shook  and  the  Moose  swung  his  head  araound, 
give  one  snort,  and  started  off  into  the  bog.  I  had  clean 
missed  him. 

" '  You  vary  poor  shot  I '  said  Dom'nick,  tumblin'  out 
of  the  tree,  for  the  limb  broke  clean  off  jest  then. 

"  I  was  mad,  but  I'd  seen  enough  o'  Injun  manners  to 
keep  cool,  so  I  sez,  sez  I,  '  We've  got  'nough  Moose 
meat  five  miles  better  to  camp  than  here.  I  jest  wasted 
a  shot  to  let  you  out  o'  that  fix!  Where's  yer  own 
gun?' 

"Dom'nick  looked  at  me,  and  then  he  laughed  and 
clapped  me  on  the  back,  and  said,  '  You  hav'  ze  good 
luck,  I  hav'  ze  bad,  so  I  tell  you.  I  walk  long  way, 
find  two  bull  Moose  fightin',  makin'  each  odder  bleed 
wiz  horns;    cow  track  run  awjiy  home   to   marsh.      I 


318 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


creep  vary  near  —  they  not  see  me.  I  aim,  fire,  bang ! 
Only  hit  one  in  horns  because  movin'  so  much.  I  move 
quick  to  get  anodere  shot;  one  Moose  run  awaj'^,  one 
vary  mad  —  him  run  at  me.  I  hit  gun  'gainst  tree,  he 
jumps  out  of  hand,  den  I  run!  Angry  Moose  awful  I 
Can  break  chest  in  wiz  horns,  can  kick  like  horse.  I 
get  up  tree,  bad  tree,  little  few  branches.  Moose  vary 
inad.  Bang,  smash!  I  feel  branch  crack,  then  you 
come.     Can  smoke  now.     Good !     Both  smoke  pipes.' 

"  I  reckon  we  were  glad  enough  to  git  back  to  camp 
with  a  couple  o'  Moose  steaks  we  hacked  off,  and  the 
boys  went  out  with  horses  and  brought  the  carcass  back 
afore  the  Wolves  scented  it.  I  wasn't  goin'  to  say  a 
word,  but  Dom'nick  he  told,  and  let  the  laugh  on  him- 
self! 

" '  Nez  will  be  big  hunter  some  day,'  said  he, '  he  has  ze 
luck.    Ze  luck  and  good  gun  are  great  t'ing  in  woods.' " 

"Is  that  all?"  said  Nat,  as  Nez  stopped.  "I  wish 
there  was  more." 

"  Want  to  know !  I  reckon  that's  all  'bout  the  Moose, 
but  part  of  the  story  is  goin'  on  yet.  Dom'nick  he  took 
a  shine  to  me,  and  nine  years  ago  when  I  come  back 
East  from  Montana,  I  found  he'd  jest  died  and  left  me 
his  traps,  fixin's,  and  good  will.  Also  his  darter  (tliiit 
was  a  bit  of  a  gal  when  I  went  West),  if  she'd  hev  me, 
—  and  she  did.  She's  Toinette,  my  wife;  so  you  see 
that  Moose  story  ain't  ended." 

"  Oh,  I  understand,"  said  Dodo,  after  thinking  a  mo- 
ment, "  and  she  speaks  a  kind  of  French  like  Dominique  I 
But  what  kind  of  language  do  you  speak,  Nez  ?  " 

"  Want  to  know !  Why,  American,  for  sartin,  jest 
like  you  do  !  " 


NEZ'   BIG  MOOSE 


319 


Dodo  opened  her  mouth  to  exclaim  at  this,  but  her 
father  broke  in ;  — 

"Certainly,  north  woods  American.  Tliere  are  al- 
most as  many  kinds  of  American  spoken  here  as  there 
are  states  in  the  Union,  but  you  see,  Dodo,#there  are 
only  a  very  few  people  in  each  state  who  speak  pure 
American  or  English,  and  the  others  doubtless  think 
it  a  very  strange  language." 

"  Jest  so !  "  exclaimed  Nez. 

"Are  there  a  great  many  fences  built  of  Moose 
horns  ?  "  asked  Rap. 

"Nope,  I've  never  seen  one,"  said  Nez,  "nor  found 
more'n  an  odd  horn  here  and  there.  The  Injuns  allow 
the  Moose  claws  earth  and  snow  over  'em  to  hide  'em, 
as  soon  as  they're  shed.  Seems  likely,  too,  and  then  it 
stands  to  reason  that  the  horns  mould,  and  rats  and 
mice  gnaws  'em  away." 


.!'',    !  ■  ; 


Mi  i' 


i  4 


/  •  XXIII 

FISH  OR  FLESH 

^URING  the  holidays  the  children 
spent  most  of  their  indoor  hours 
in   Camp   Saturday,  and   New 
Year's  night  found  them  [)re- 
paring  to  make  candy  from 
the   kettle    of   molasses    l!iat 
Olive  was  watching  anxiously, 
waiting  for  the  exact  moment 
to  take  it  off  the  fire,  which 
is  so  important  when  you  are 
going   to   "pull"  molasses   candy   in   the   proper  old- 
fashioned  way. 

"  I  am  going  to  choose  all  those  footless  animals 
that  look  like  fishes,  but  are  Mammals,"  said  Nat. 
selecting  some  pictures.  "I  wonder  why  Mammals 
look  so  very  different  from  each,  and  if  the  Wise  Moii 
arc  svrc  that  these  Wljalcs  and  things  arc  not  fishes." 

"  Many  animals,  of  even  the  same  species,  arc  adu])te(l 
to  live  in  widely  different  i)laces,"  said  the  Doctor.  "If 
yon  look  at  the  lower  hranclies  of  the  animal  tree,  you 
will  sec  that  of  these  aiiinmls  without  hackl)ont's,  some 
live  on  land  and  some  in  water.  TIkui  look  liinjier 
among  those  liaviiig  backbones  :  tlic  fislies  live  in  water; 
frogs  live  in  water  and  toads  on  land ;   alligators  in 

820 


FISH  OR  FLESH 


321 


water  and  snakes  on  land,  while  with  birds  some  live 
wholly  on  land  and  a  few  mostly  on  the  water. 

"  Of  course  when  we  speak  of  the  milk-giving,  warm- 
blooded order  of  Mammals,  we  usually  think  only 
of  animals  with  four  legs,  quadrupeds  as  they  are 
called.  But  an  Alligator  is  a  quadruped  without  being 
a  Mammal,  and  a  Whale  is  a  Mammal  without  being  a 
quadruped." 

"It's  a  kind  of  a  puzzle  how  it  can  be,  isn't  it?"  said 
Nat. 

"■  Not  if  you  remember  m — mammals,  m  —  milk,"  said 
Dodo,  quickly. 

"You  must  have  often  heard  the  saying  that  'the 
exception  proves  the  rule,' "  continued  the  Doctor ;  "  so 
the  story  of  these  footless  ones  is  the  exception  to  prove 
that  four  feet  are  the  rule  among  Mammals.  Look  at 
your  Mammal  tree.    What  is  the  lowest  branch  of  all  ?  " 

"Pouch  wearers,"  said  Nat,  "are  on  the  lowest 
branch  that  grows  with  us,  though  there  are  two  others 
lower  that  are  only  stumps.  Opossum  is  the  pouch 
wearer,  but  there  is  a  picture  of  him  in  the  portfolio, 
and  lie  has  four  legs  and  a  curly  tail.  Why  is  he  lower 
than  no-legged  beasts  ?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  that  when  we  come  to  him.  Wliat 
is  the  next  branch  ?  " 

"  Sea  Cows ;  and  the  ladder  says  there  is  only  one 
species  in  North  America  and  its  name  is  Mans'tce, 
and  that  it  is  eight  or  ten  feet  long.  Isn't  it  ugly, 
though  I  Its  face  looks  like  one  of  those  big  tomato 
worms." 

"We  thought  the  Walrus  hideous  and  grotesque,  and 
the  Sea  Lion  awkward,"  said  the  Doctor ;  "  but  what 


322 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


can  be  said  of  this  Manatee,  wlio  is  almost  helpless  on 
land,  being  unable  to  raise  his  solid,  sloping  body  on  his 
flippers,  though  when  he  is  in  the  water  his  fat  acts  as 
a  life-buoy,  and  his  wide,  round  tail  makes  him  an  ex- 
pert swimmer.  If  you  could  see  his  skeleton  you  would 
notice  that  his  flippers  are  really  arms  coming  fiom 
flat  shoulder  blades,  and  ending  in  five-fingered  hands 
which  the  flesh  hides.  Also,  that  instead  of  strong  teetii 
for  eating  flesh,  he  has  small  weak  teeth  fit  only  for 
chewing  vegetable  food.  Uncouth  as  the  Manatee  is. 
he  yields  three  valuable  things,  —  good  oil,  good  meat, 
and  good  leather,  and,  if  protected,  would  have  been  of 
great  use  to  the  people  of  the  coast  streams  of  Florida, 
where  he  lives.  \ 

"  Though  the  Manatee  spends  its  life  hi  water,  it 
cannot  stay  under  water  more  than  five  or  six  miinites 
at  a  time,  and  when  it  comes  up  to  breathe  it  gives 
people  a  chance  to  shoot  it.  Sometimes,  however,  it  is 
caught  in  heavy  nets  spread  across  the  rivers  that  are 
its  favorite  feeding  grounds.  While  eating,  the  Manatee 
floats,  using  his  flip[)ers  like  fans  to  guide  the  long  sea 
grasses  and  water  [dants,  among  which  he  often  hides. 
to  his  mouth.  People  tliink  that  early  mariners,  in 
looking  down  through  clear  soutliern  watcMs,  saw  this 
monster  floating  ni)right  and  waving  its  flip[)ers,  as  it 
looked  up  tlirongh  the  swaying  gnisses  tiiat  surroundeil 
it  like  long  hair.  Iknng  surprised  and  very  nnicli 
frightened,  they  lost  no  time,  on  going  back  t(»  shore,  in 
spreading  tales  of  the  l)eantiful  nuMniiiids  they  had  seen 
combing  tlieir  ;iair  and  riding  under  water  on  the  l)M('k> 
of  Dolphins,  whihi  they  sang  sweet  luring  music.  \\\ 
can  Hi\ii   for  ourselves   iiow  much  mistaken  thev  were 


I 


st  helpless  on 
ig  body  on  his 
Ills  fat  acts  as 
3S  biin  an  ex- 
ton  vou  would 
coming  from 
ingered  hands 
of  strong  teeth 
th  fit  only  for 
lie  Manatee  is. 
oil,  good  meat, 
d  have  l)een  of 
ims  of  Florida, 

i 
fe  in  water,  it 
1  or  six  minutes 
preathe  it  gives 
),  however,  it  is 

rivers  that  avo 
ng,  tlte  ^lanatec 
ide  the  long  sen 

he  often  hides, 
rly  mariners,  in 
wutors,  saw  tliis 
ts  tlii)[)ers,  as  il 
that  surroundeil 
and  very  niucli 
hiU'k  to  shore,  in 
(Is  they  had  seen 
iter  on  the  hacl^ 
ling  music,  \^t 
lidvcn  they  weiv, 


m 


Thk  Manai kk 


\ 


FISH  OR  FLESH 


323 


but  nevertheless  one  of  the  Manatee's  family  names  is 
Siieuia,  or  Siren,  which  does  not  seem  as  uitable  as  Sea 
Cow.  No  less  a  personage  than  Christopher  Columbus 
believed  that  these  Manatees  were  mermaids,  but  con- 
fessed himself  disappointed  in  their  beauty.  In  an  ac- 
count of  his  second  voyage  we  read:  'The  Admiral 
[Columbus]  affirmed  he  had  seen  thereabouts  three 
mermaids  that  raised  themselves  far  above  the  water, 
and  that  they  are  not  as  handsome  as  they  are  painted, 
and  that  they  wore  something  like  a  human  face,'  which 
1  belie vi;  is  the  first  mention  of  our  Sea  Cow  in  history. 
''  The  Manatee  is  slate-gray  on  top,  with  a  few  scat- 
tered hairs ;  the  belly  is  whitish.  Though  it  has  only 
fore  limbs,  in  resting  on  the  river  bottom  as  is  its  custom, 
it  curves  its  tail  fins  to  support  its  back,  after  tlie  fashion 
of  legs,  and  balances  by  resting  also  on  the  tips  of  its 
fli[)pers.  One  or  two  calves  are  born  each  year,  to 
whom  the  Cow  is  most  affectionate,  being  said  even  to 
shed  tears  if  she  is  separated  from  them.  One  would 
think  that  there  need  be  no  fear  of  such  a  useful,  harm- 
less animal  becoming  extinct ;  but  man  kills  on  water  as 
well  as  on  land,  and  the  Manatee,  if  it  does  not  possess 
the  'fatal  gift  of  beauty,'  has  a  gift  that  exposes  him  to 
even  greater  danger  from  the  half-wild  people  of  his 
haunts :  he  is  wonderfully  good  eating,  the  meat  being 
coni[)ared  by  different  people  to  young  pig,  veal,  and 
hunb.  So  it  will  not  be  long  before  we  shall  have  to 
say  'good  divy'  to  the  Manatee.  He  may  change  liis 
skin,  as  he  does  every  year ;  men  will  not  change  their 
habils,  but  keep  on  killing  the  geese  that  lay  the  golden 
eggs,  like  the  people  in  the  fairy  story." 

«  w  «  «  « 


■ 

I  : 


324 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


"  Olive,  quick !  the  molasses  is  boiling  over,"  cried 
Dodo.  And  Mr.  Blake  had  barely  time  to  snatch  off 
the  pot  and  prevent  a  great  spill. 

"  It's  ready  to  pour  out,"  said  Olive,  trying  a  little  of 
the  mixture  on  a  spoon ;  "  then  as  soon  as  it  is  ropy, 
we  can  begin  to  pull.  Don't  put  it  out  on  the  snow, 
Nat;  we  want  it  to  grow  tough,  not  brittle,  this  time." 

7^  ^  V  W  V  . 

"  The  next  branch  on  the  Mammal  tree  is  a  very  deep 
water  one,  the  Whale  branch,  and  the  Dolphins  and 
Porpoises  are  sort  of  twigs  on  it,"  said  Kap,  studying 
the  picture.  "  The  ladder  says  that  Whale  comes  from 
two  words,  meaning  roller,  and  that  they  can't  move  on 
land,  and  they  live  on  animal  food." 

"  Yes,"*  isaid  the  Doctor,  ''  the  Whales  are  all  rollers 
and  the  Porpoises  too,  though  the  Dolphins  are  quite 
graceful  cand  sportive,  varying  their  rolling  motions  by 
wonderful  leaps,  so  that  I  do  not  wonder  the  mariners 
cliose  them  to  be  the  mermaids'  horses. 

"  When  this  Whale  tribe  was  developed.  Nature  set 
out  to  build  some  Mammals  like  swimming  oil-tanks,  to 
furnish  light  and  heat  to  man  until  he  should  have 
learned  to  bore  into  the  earth  and  draw  oil  from  wells. 
As  usual.  Nature  succeeded  very  well,  and  among  tliese 
Wliales  are  numbered  tlie  largest  living  Mammals,  some 
species  reaching  eiglity  feet  in  length.  All  of  this  order 
yield  more  or  less  oil,  but  the  two  most  valuable  species 
are  the  great  S])erm  Wiiale,  or  Cachelot,  and  the  Bow- 
head.  The  Sperm  Whale  has,  in  a  hollow  in  his  head, 
a  lardy  substance  called  spermaceti,  from  which  candles 
are  made  ;  also  yields  a  perfume  called  ambergris,  and  is 
entirely  covered,  under  the  skin,  with  a  layer  of  fat 


m 


FISH  OR  FLESH 


325 


blubber,  which  not  only  keeps  him  afloat,  but  when 
tried  out  yields  barrels  of  sperm  oil.  This  Whale  is 
()[  a  curious  shape,  being  obliged  to  turn  on  his  back 
when  lie  wishes  to  take  anything  in  his  mouth.  If 
you  could  see  the  skeleton  of  a  Whale  you  would  find 
that  he  has  five  finger  bones  hidden  in  liis  front  fins,  the 
same  as  the  Manatee.  It  is  impossible  to  realize  his 
immense  size  when  seen  in  the  water,  but  if  by  chance 
one  is  stranded  on  a  beach,  men  seem  but  pigmies  beside 
him.     The  nostrils  of  the  Whale  are  high  on  the  top 


>  '    ■  '[   )         '■  ■ 

^^"l^r^^^-T'^ 

• 

il- 

'""■"  '(!»?!!^ 

-^tl 

L 

■^                              -         ■"' 

ai^. 

f^- 

—irfe'"-  •            ;  -    ■ 

U  iaglll 


Spbum  Whalk. 


of  its  head  so  as  to  be  as  far  out  of  water  as  possi- 
ble. People  used  to  think  that  Whales  took  water  into 
their  mouths  and  blew  it  out  through  their  nostrils,  a 
proceeding  which  is  called  spoHtinr/  in  Sea  Stories.  But 
the  ti'uth  of  the  matter  is,  that,  breathing  slowly  as 
water  animals  must,  but  with  great  force,  the  warm 
breath  turns  to  a  fountain  of  spray  when  it  comes  in 
contact  with  the  cold  air,  and  so  the  mistake  arose. 

"  Hunting  these  Whales  was  once  tho  great  industry 
of  the  New  England  coast,  and  many  stories  and  books 
have  been  written  about  it ;  but  those  days  have  passed 


326 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


V 


,f 


with  all  other  times  of  good  hunting,  and  for  the  same 
cause. 

"The  cow  Whales  are  exceedingly  fond  of  their 
young,  sporting  and  playing  with  them  in  the  water, 
pausing  frequently,  and  floating  on  their  sides  to  givo 
the  calves  a  chance  to  take  their  milk  food.  If  a  young 
Whale  is  caught  or  wounded,  its  mother  usually  gives 
her  own  life  ratlier  than  leave  it. 

"  As  the  whalers  paid  no  respect  to  the  season  when 
the  calves  were  young  and  helpless,  but  even  followed  the 
cows  into  the  only  homes  they  had,  —  the  bays  where 
the  calves  are  born  and  are  nursed,  —  it  is  little  wonder 
that  a  hundred  years  or  more  of  such  work  has  thinned 
out  these  sea  giants.  Now  Whale  fishing  is  chiefly  done 
in  the  Northwest,  where  Behring  Strait  joins  the  Arctic 
Ocean,  and  steam  craft  with  long-range  guns  and  dyna- 
mite bombs  are  hastening  the  extinction  of,  at  least,  the 
useful  members  of  the  order. 

"  Man  may  get  oil  from  the  ground,  but  there  is 
something  yielded  by  a  few  species  of  Whale,  like  tlie 
Bowhead  and  Finback,  for  which  no  substitute  has 
been  found.  1  mean  whalebone,  which  is  really  no 
more  true  bone  than  is  a  cow's  horn.  The  Whales  who 
give  this  substance  liave  no  teetli,  and  large,  broad 
mouths,  so  that  if  they  open  them  to  take  in  a  mass 
of  mollusks  (tlie  shell-fisli  upon  which  they  feed),  tliey 
would  either  have  to  swallow  a  great  quantity  of  water, 
or  risk  losing  their  meal.  Nature  made  a  provision  for 
this,  just  as  the  grooved  saw-tooth  bill  was  arranged  to 
strain  tlie  water  from  the  food  of  the  duck.  Plates  of 
horny  fibre  were  developed  from  the  part  of  the  Whale's 
mouth  called  the  palate,  so  as  to  make  both  a  gate  and 


FISH  OR  FLESH 


327 


for  the  same 


a  sieve  to  strain  the  water  off,  and  allow  only  the  food 
to  be  swallowed.  This  gate  is  arranged  in  such  a  way 
that  it  lifts  up  like  a  drawbridge  when  the  mouth  opens, 
and  closes  at  the  exact  moment  when  it  is  needed. 
You  can  well  imagine  that  any  substance  at  once  strong 
and  yet  pliable  enough  to  close  inside  a  Whale's  mouth, 
must  be  very  durable  and  flexible. 

"This  whalebone,  made  into  strips,  is  used  as  the 
foundation  for  many  articles,  chief  among  them  being 
the  best  driving  whips  and  the  '  bones '  for  corsets  and 
dress  waists.     But  the  real  whalebone  is  growing  rarer 


Finback  Whale. 


and  more  costly  each  year.  The  Arctic  Bowliead  yields 
the  finest,  longest  baleen^  as  the  Wise  Men  call  this 
whalebone.  The  Finback  Whale,  such  as  you  see  in 
tlie  picture,  also  grows  baleen,  but  it  is  of  a  poorer  sort." 

"  Why  are  they  digging  a  hole  in  this  Wliale  with  a 
shovel  ?  "  asked  Dodo. 

"  That  is  the  old-fashioned  blubber  sliovel  with  which 
tlioy  used  to  cut  the  blocks  of  solid  blubber  from  the 
Wliale,  just  as  you  have  seen  tnrf  cut,  in  order  that  the 
fat  may  be  boiled  down  to  extract  the  oil." 

"  I  wish  you  would  tell  us  all  the  ways  of  catching 
Wliales,  and  all  the  places  they  live,"  said  Nat. 


328 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"That  would  take  too  long  now,  and  your  candy 
would  grow  quite  hard ;  but  some  evening  I  will  show 
you  pictures  of  all  the  Whales,  and  read  you  about  tlie 
fisheries  from  one  of  the  great  black-covered  Goveriniient 
books  in  my  study.  I  only  wished  to  show  you  now 
that  they  really  are  branches  of  our  Mammal  tree,  even 
though  these  branches  trail  in  the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and 
Arctic  oceans. 


ii^^^> 


1;| 


ThK    I'ORPOISE. 

"  The  common  Porpoise  that  we  see  rolling  about  the 
sounds  and  harbors,  and  his  brother  the  Dolphin,  seem 
mere  babies  in  size  compared  to  these  true  Whfiles.  The 
Porpoise  travels  in  parties  of  various  sizes,  and  makes  a 
terrible  fuss  in  getting  through  the  water,  rolling,  snuf- 
fling, and  grunting  like  a  pig,  from  which  noise,  togetlici 
with  the  small  piglike  eyes,  it  took  the  name  of  Sea 
Hog  and  Herring  Hog.     Every  time  a  Porpoise  rolls  lie 


FISU  OR  FLESH 


329 


shows  the  long  fin  on  his  bacli,  and  this  violent  effort  is 
made  to  allow  him  to  get  his  nose  sufttciently  out  of 
water  to  breathe.  Porpoises  are  of  very  little  use  to 
man,  which  accounts  for  the  numbers  constantly  seen. 
They  often  do  positive  harm  in  our  home  waters  by  eat- 
ing quantities  of  fish  that  travel  in  schools,  like  harbor 
blues,  herring,  menhaden,  etc.  They  are  said  to  be 
good  fighters  and,  when  in  a  herd,  able  to  surround  quite 
large  prey  and  drive  it  in  any  direction  they  choose. 
Tlie  young  are  curious  creatures,  looking,  when  a  few 
days  old,  like  black  bottles  about  two  feet  long.  Por- 
poises very  seldom  spring  wholly  from  the  water  like 
Dolphins,  though  they  have  been  known  to  do  so,  even 
leaping  over  boats  when  badly  frightened. 

''Of  Dolphins  there  are  many  species,  found  in  all 
salt  waters,  and  ranging  in  size  from  five  to  fifteen  feet. 
They  seem  to  be  made  for  beauty  rather  than  use,  and 
are  as  swift  as  the  Porpoises  are  clumsy.     We  hear  of 
them  everywhere,  in  mid-ocean  chasing  fishes  or  each 
other  with  dash  and  vigor,  or  sporting  and  leaping  from 
the  water  in  a  spirit  of  pure  fun.      They  seem  to  be  the 
gentlemen-of-leisure  of  the  ocean,  a  sort  of  literary  fish 
placing  a  much  more  important  part  in  poetry  and  his- 
tory than  in  reports  of  the  fishing  industries.     When  is 
old  Neptune  ever  pictured  as  taking  a  ride  through  his 
watery  kingdom  armed  with  his  trident,  that  lie  is  not 
driving  Dolphins?     When  he  is  carved  in  stone  to  play 
kini^  and  sit  beside  a  fountain,  who  are  his  gentlemen- 
in-waiting?    Dolphins.    If  a  Prince  in  a  fairy  tale  wishes 
to  send  a  magic  ring  to  his  Princess,  imprisoned  in  a  coral 
cavo,  who  bnt  a  I)(dphin  does  he  choose  to  carry  it? 
"  Ves,  Dodo,  1  know  tlie  molasses  is  ready  to  pull. 


^^■,::lflf: 


i 


M 


Ey  ■  .1 


330 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


fil 


./ 


1^ 


DULFUINS. 

-  I  • 
Butter  your  fingers,  then  dip  tliem  in  flour,  or  I  shall  be 
asked  to  dress  blisters  to-morrow.  Meanwhile  remember 
that  if  any  one  asks  you  how  you  know  that  Whales  are 
Mammals  and  not  fishes,  remember  to  tell  them  that 
the  Wise  Men  say,  — 

"*  A  fish  has  cold  blood,  breathes  through  gills,  and  lays  eggs; 

A  Whale  has  warm  blood,  breathes  with  lungs,  and  cares  for  its 
young  as  a  cow  does. 

A  fish  has  tail  fins  that  run  up  and  down,  lying  flat  with  its  body; 

A  Whale's  tail  is  set  crosswise  and  it  is  moved  in  swimming  like  the 
blades  of  a  propeller,  while  both  tail  and  front  fins  do  not  look 
unliko  the  hind  feet  and  flipjDers  of  its  blood  brother,  the 
Seal.'"  /" 

"  Quick,  Nat ! "  cried  Olive,  "  your  lump  of  candy 
will  fall  if  you  pull  so  slowly.  Now,  one,  two,  —  pull; 
three,  four,  —  double  it  over."  Then,  for  the  next 
half  hour,  Camp  Saturday  was  enveloped  in  sticky 
silence. 


XXIV 

RATS  AND   MICE 

HREE  blind  mice!  Three  blind 
mice !  See  how  they  run,  see 
how  they  run ! "  sang  Dodo. 
"  That  is,  how  they  would  run  if 
they  could,"  cried  Nat,  as  they 
^^  rushed  into  the  wonder  room 
^  a  little  before  tea  time,  carrying 
a  long  cage  rat-trap  between 
them.  "  Look  !  five  of  such  queer  little  things.  They 
are  not  house  mice  nor  moles,  nor  like  the  pretty  White- 
footed  Mouse  that  comes  from  under  the  hearth  in 
camp.  See  what  blunt  faces  they  have!  What  do 
you  think  they  are  ?  " 

"  Meadow  Mice,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  and  a  fine,  healthy 
lot  of  them,  too.     Where  were  they  caught?" 

"  Rod  set  the  trap  in  Olive's  pansy  frame,  because  the 
plants  were  bitten  and  he  had  seen  a  rat  or  two  about 
that  side  of  the  barn,  and  this  morning  when  he  looked 
all  these  were  in  it.  You  can  catch  'most  anything  in 
one  of  these  traps.  Big  or  little,  if  it  steps  on  the  plat- 
form it  falls  in,"  said  Nat.  "Stop  fussing,  and  keep 
still,  so  we  can  see  what  color  you  are." 

"  A  brownish-gray  coat,  a  light  vest,  short  tail,  small 
ears,,  and  only  pin-head  eyes,"  said  Olive,  looking  over 
liis  shoulder.     "It's   a   very   stout    Mouse,   is   it  not, 

331 


\ 


332 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


i]'M 


^1*1 


f 


Mkauovv  Mouse. 

father?     More  like  a    I'rairie    Dog  or  Wootlcliuok  in 
shape  than  like  one  of  its  own  family." 

"It  is  a  chunky  Mouse,  but  in  the  great  Order  of 
Gnawers  to  which  it  belongs,  we  have  many  variations 
of  a  general  plan,  and  striking  contrasts  are  to  be  seen, 
particularly  in  heads  and  tails.  If  you  wish  to  be  intro- 
duced to  some  of  the  four-footed  nuisance  animals  now 
is  the  time,  for  these  Meadow  Mice  are  as  troublesome 
about  the  garden  and  orchard  as  the  rats  in  the  granarv. 
or  the  I  louse  Mouse  in  the  pantry  ;  and  rats  and  mici;  aii' 
largely  res[)()nsible  for  the  bad  name  worn  by  the  entire 
(^rder. 


Huts ! 


Tlicy  fotij^lit  tlio  (l()j;s  and  killed  the  ciitf,    * 

y\nd  l»il  lilt'  hiiltics  in  tlic  ciiidlcs; 

And  ale  llic  cliccscs  oul  (if  llic  viits, 

And  licki'd  tlio  h()||[i  I'loni  (Im*  cuuk'H  own  ladles!' 


RATS  AXD  MICE 


333 


WoodcUuck  in 


»» 


great  Order  of 
many  variations 

are  to  be  seen, 
wish  to  be  intvo- 
ice  animals  now 

as  tronblesome 
in  the  graiuuy, 

ats  and  miee  aio 

vii  by  the  entire 


catp, 


s  own  ImUi'rt!' 


'•  Do  yon  remember  how  anxions  the  Mayor  of  Ilamelin 
WHS  to  get  rid  of  tlie  rats,  and  wliat  a  mean  trick  he 
plityed  on  the  Pied  Piper?  Also,  how  the  blind  mice 
cliiised  tlie  farmer's  wife  nntil,  in  self-defence,  '  She  cnt 
off  tlieir  tails  with  a  carving  knife  I '  And  they've  been 
in  mischief  ever  since." 

"I  wonder  why  the  first  farmer's  wife  didn't  kill 
them  instead  of  cntting  off  their  tails,"  said  Dodo.  "  1 
tliink  she  was  crnel." 

"  Perhaps  they  all  hid  in  a  crack  and  tlieir  tails  hnng 
out,  and  so  she  cnt  them  off  to  pnnish  them,  and  remind 
tlieni  not  to  chase  her  again,"  snggested  Olive. 

"This  Meadow  Monse  is  one  of  the  tribe  who  ate 
the  lily  bnlbs  hist  spring,"  continued  the  Doctor,  '"and 
who,  f()lh)wing  in  the  Mole's  tunnel,  gnawed  the  juicy 
roots  of  the  geraniums  so  that  they  broke  off  a  little  be- 
low the  ground.  I  have  owen  seen  their  runways  twist- 
iiio-  ill  and  out  among  the  glass  tufts  in  the  old  meadow, 
iiiui  between  the  stumps  or  fence  posts,  under  which 
they  liave  winter  lodgings.  In  summer  they  live  almost 
wholly  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  making  nests 
among  the  grass,  and  at  that  season,  of  course,  they 
destroy  a  certain  amount  of  corn  and  damage  stackecl 
l^niin  by  nibbling  it  from  the  straw,  but  above  all  they 
are  garden  pests.  'I'hese  mic(^  do  not  sleep  the  winter 
sleep:  and  if  theie  is  no  snow  to  protect  the  roots  of 
siiruhs  and  fruit  trees,  they  arc  sure  to  snffci'  severe 
'^niawiny.  Karlv  in  the  season  I  saw  a  nuinlu'r  of  them 
ill  tlu^  new  [teach  oriihard,  but  1  think  this  dee[)  snow 
will  save  the  trees  this  year." 

"Are  they  common  mice?"  asked  Olive.     "It  seems 
stiiiigo  that  1  have  never  seen  any  before." 


334 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"Yes,  they  are  very  common,  at  least,  through  tlie 
half  of  the  country  east  of  the  Mississippi.  They  fted 
chiefly  at  night,  which  is  prohably  the  reason  you  hiive 
not  noticed  them." 

"  Then  people  who  live  the  other  side  of  the  j\Ii.s- 
sissippi  are  not  bothered  with  them  ?  "  said  Nat. 

"  They  may  not  havo  this  particular  Meadow  Mouse. 
but  there  is  sure  to  be  a  near  cousin  for  every  part  of 
the  country,  and  one  for  every  day  in  the  year  too. 
Why,  aside  from  all  the  other  gnawers,  tliere  are  two 
hundred  species  in  the  family  of  Rats  and  Mice  alone." 

"  What  makes  a  species  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  One  line  day,  long  ago,  some  Meadow  Mice  from  a 
certain  place  might  have  been  accidentally  carried  far 
away  from  home  to  a  place  where  the  food  and  country 
and  climate  were  entirely  different  from  where  tliey 
were  born.  They  had  to  change  their  habits  a  little  to 
suit  their  new  home,  and  after  many  generations  this 
change  of  habit  made  a  change  in  their  looks.  Their 
feet  might  be  laigei',  or  they  might  have  grown  a  new- 
pattern  in  coats.  Then  some  Wise  iSIan  noticed  this 
and  said,  ^  Here  is  a  new  species.'  So  the  Wise  Men  who 
are  trying  to  draw  the  family  tree  of  tliese  iniisanee 
animals  cannot  hnish  it  yet,  because,  no  matter  how  t'acli 
one  works  on  his  tree,  someone  else  is  always  going 
out  and  finding  new  species  that  nuist  be  added  as 
twigs." 

''Then  I  guess  we  can't  learn  all  the  names  of  thai 
family,"  said  Dodo. 

"N(»,  indeed.  'I'liere  are  about  ten  species,  howevti. 
belonging  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  whose  jiict- 
ures  1  can  sh.iw  you  and  whose  names  you  must  try  to 


HATS  AND  MICE 


335 


tlirougli  the 
.  They  fted 
isou  you  biive 

}  of  tlie  ^lis- 

l  Nat. 

eadoNV  Mouse, 
every  part  of 
the  year  too. 
there  are  two 

d  Mice  alone." 

)W  Mice  from  a 
,ally  carried  i'av 
od  and  country 
m\  where  they 
labits  a  little  to 
renerations  this 
looks.     Their 
crrowu  a  new 
ui  noticed  tliis 
Wise  Men  who 
these  nuisance 
matter  how  each 
s   always   ^niiif; 
st  he   added  us 


names 


of  tlnit 


;i)ecies,  howeVfi. 

ntry,  whose  jml- 

you  must  try  tti 


remember,  for  you  may  very  likely  see  tliem  all  in  their 
liomes  sooner  or  later.  Take  your  trap  with  you  to  tlie 
camp,  for  it  is  nearly  time  for  supper,  and  this  evening' 
I  will  give  you  the  list." 

*  ■    *  «  Id  m 

Doctor  Roy  brought  an  old  blackboard  from  his  store 
closet,  and  setting  it  by  the  animal  tree  told  Nat  that 
he  might  write  the  names  of  the  ten  nuisance  animals, 
togetlier  with  the  parts  of  the  country  they  inliabit,  and 
a  few^  facts  about  tliem. 

Quick  and  Mr.  Wolf  were  lying  before  the  fire,  and 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  mice  which  Dodo  was  vainly 
trying  to  feed  witli  crumbs. 

'^  You'd  like  to  give  them  a  shaking,  Qnick,  wouldn't 
you?  But  you  can't,  for  I'm  going  to  collect  a  men- 
agerie and  begin  it  witli  these  and  Billy  Coon." 

"•  ril  give  you  a  Gray  Squirrel.  I  caught  one  a  week 
ago  to-day.  It  was  so  hungry  it  came  right  in  our  wood- 
.slied,  and  it's  a  beauty,"  said  Hap ;  "  only  j'ou'U  have 
to  be  carefid,  for  the  dogs  don't  understand  about  wild 
pets,  and  I'm  pretty  sure  theyaie  watching  out  to  shake 
Hilly  Coon." 

""  See  liow  nicely  that  mouse  is  sitting  up  and  wash- 
ing his  face,  just  like  a  (!at,  and  what  pretty  little  paws 
lie  has!  Even  if  mice  are  nuisance  animals  I  like  them, 
and  I  think  they  are  nuich  more  fun  to  play  with  than 
dolls,"  said  Lodo. 

"I  wonder  how  you  will  like  it  in  the  spring  if  you 
tiiid  they  have  eaten  the  tulii)s  that  you  [danted  so  rare- 
fully,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  I  .shall  be  vi'ry,  very  much  disappoint(Ml,  iuul  m-a-d," 
said  Dodo,  decidedly. 


m 


336 


FO Uli-FOOTEJ)  A  MEIUCANS 


1> 


"Our  nuisance  animals  beloiio-  to  four  fliffereiit 
groups,  so  we  will  begin  with  the  best  known,,  —  the 
lannly  circle  ot"  Hats  and  Mice. 

"•  The  White  Lcnimitu/  conies  lirst  on  niv  list.  It  is  ■,>, 
rather  wicked  destroyer  of  grass  and  roots,  belonging-  to 
the  cold  north  country  with  the  Caribou,  Musk  Ox,  and 
Polar  Bear.  It  furnishes  many  meals  for  the  Arctic 
Fox  and  the  Snowy  Owl,  who  evidently  intend  that 
Lennnings  shall  not  become  too  ])lenty.  It  is  short  and 
thick-set,  about  the  size  of  a  M(de,  with  small  ears,  what 
Olive  calls  '  pin-head' eyes,  and  a  scraj)  of  a  tail  like 
a  Kabbit.  In  common  M'ith  many  of  the  northern 
animals  it  wears  '  [)rotective  coloring'  in  its  coat,  being 
covered,  feet  and  all,  with  white  fur  in  winter,  chang- 
ing to  shaded  browns  in  sununer,  the  season  that  it 
burrows  in  the  ground.  Its  winter  nests  are  of  moss 
above  ground  or  in  little  snow  caves. 

"The  next  is  that  swinnning,  burro\\ing' gnawer  the 
Muslcmt^  who  is  eveiy  inch  a  rat  as  fai-  down  as  his 
llattcncd  tail  and  scaly,  webbed  hind  legs,  where  be  sun-- 
gests  the  shape  of  his  burrowing  and  nnid-pi(!-midvintf 
brodier,  the  IJeaver.  lie  is  a  heavy  aninnd,  with  short 
neck  and  long,  shar])  hind  claws  for  digging,  and  fore 
paws  like  hands,  with  four  lingers  and  a  thumb,  lie 
secretes  a  nuisky  odor  that  gives  him  his  name. 

"Tiic  Miiskrat  is  certainly  the  aristocrat  of  his  family. 
for  he  wears  a  most  beautiful  soft  fur  coat  that  neither 
mud  nor  water  can  destroy.  (\'our  father,  you  I'emeiii- 
ber,  has  a  cap  made  of  it. )  lie  linds  |ilaces  suilal»le  Im 
his  home  in  the  greater  jiait  of  North  America,  and 
there  are  few  ponds  and  sluggisli  sticams  that  (h»  net 
tell  tales  of  him.     He  lives  and  linds  his  food  in  tlic 


HATS   AM)   MIC  I: 


3:17 


\v   jliffevtiiil 
lown.  —  the 

list.     It  is  ;v 
belonginp:  to 
usk  Ox,  iuid 
1-  the  Arctic 
inteiul   that 
is  short  aiul 
all  ears,  what 
if  a  tail  lila' 
the    northern 
ts  eoat,  being- 
vinter,  chaiiu- 
eason  that  it 
s  are  of  moss 


10'  o-nawer  the 

down   as  liis 

where  he  sn*-- 

n(l-piiHUnldn<4 

111,  with  sliort 

v(ril\U".  ivi"^  ''"'^' 
a  thiiinh.     Ho 

uanu'. 

t  of  his  family. 

it   that  neitlu'i 

r,  you   riMnrni- 

•cs  suilahh'  I'oi 

Ameriea.  itn'l 

is  tlnit  do  1'"' 

his  food  ii»  tlu' 


water,  and  seems  out  of  his  t'lement  when  on  land.  Ho 
[uefers  to  attend  to  his  affairs  at  night,  wIk'U  tho  sun 
cannot  spy  upon  him,  and  he  is  sociable  as  wtill  as  shy, 
j)referring  village  life  to  solitude,  so  tliat  many  of  the 
domed  winter  liouses,  built  of  reeds,  sticics.  and  mud,  are 
usually  found  near  together.  These  homes  are  built 
in  shallow  water  and  are  entered  from  below ;  there  is 


.Ml  SK 11  AT. 

ii  conifortabh'  living-room  inside,  just  above  the  water 
level,  with  many  passages  fiom  it  wherti  tl»e  family  can 
hide  in  times  of  danger.  The  doorway  being  under 
water,  allows  tlie  Muskrat  to  go  out  in  winter,  wlieii 
tlie  surface  is  fro/en,  ami  secure  marsh  roots  and  tlu! 
otlier  vegetable  fttod  that  he  needs.  So  lie  does  not 
.slei'lt  the  winter  sh'e[»,  nor  yet  store  U[»  food  like  tlie 
lieaver. 


■■•■ 


ill 


838 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  The  objection  wliicli  classes  the  Muskiat  among  nui- 
sance animals,  is  not  because  they  eat  valuable  things, 
but  because  of  their  burrowing  habits  ;  they  cause  river 
and  pond  banks  to  cave  in,  and  undermine  mill-dams.  I 
know  of  a  large  and  valuable  tract  of  marsh,  the  drain- 
ing of  wliich  has  been  twice  abandoned  because  myriads 
of  Muskrats  kept  burrowing  through  the  dikes.  The 
Muskrat's  summer  liome  is  in  a  bank  burrow,  and  at 
tliis  season  he  varies  his  vegetable  food  with  fresh- 
water nuissels.  He  is  a  great  lighter,  and  has  been 
known  to  attack  people  on  slight  provocation,  and 
witliout  being  cornered. 

"■  Tlie  true  Kats  and  Mice  liave  bright  eyes,  large  ears, 
soft  fur,  and  naked,  scaly  tails.  They  eat  both  animal  and 
vegetable  food,  wliich  liabit  is  called  being  omnivorouH. 
The  MemJoir  Mouse  we  have  been  discussing  eomi's 
liist  among  these,  and  next  the  graceful  White-footed  or 
Deer  Mou»e^  that  you  have  made  friends  with  at  the 
iiieside.  'J'iiis  mouse  must  feel  (pnte  at  home  here  in 
camp,  or  he  would  not  show  himself  so  freely,  for  they 
are  very  shy  by  nature,  feeding  at  night,  and  pre- 
ferring the  shelter  of  wheat  stacks  and  outbuildings  to 
liouses,  though  I  believe  they  are  the  common  House 
Mice  of  some  districts.  Tliis  mouse  is  a  great  climlu'r 
and  jum[)er,  placing  its  nests  in  all  sorts  of  nooks;  now 
in  a  bird  or  S(|uirrers  nest  high  up  in  a  tree,  then  again 
neatly  weaving  a  round  home  of  its  own  in  some  bush 
a  few  feet  above  ground.  They  eache  grass  seeds  and 
grain  undi-rground,  and  altogether  this  little  Di-ei' 
Mouse  is  so  [)reity  and  dainty,  with  its  white  feet  and 
vest  and  ruddy  l)ntwn  ba»d\,  bright  eyes,  and  iiuig  bhui 
whiskers,  that  I  am  glad  to  say  that  it  does  little  harm. 


HATS  AM)  mill; 


839 


"Now  you  must  jump  from  a  mouse  a  little  over  three 
inches  long  to  the  great  Cotton  llat^  who  is  as  big  as  a 
Chipmunk  and  e(iually  mischievous.  Fortunately  we 
do  not  have  him  here,  but  he  is  common  from  Virginia 
southward.  His  body  is  about  six  inches  long,  with  a 
medium  tail.  He  has  round  ears,  and  wears  a  rusty 
l)rown  coat  and  gray  vest.     Though  he  usually  is  kind 


Cotton  Hat. 


enough  to  keep  out  of  gardens,  lie  riddles  fields  and 
meadows  with  his  underground  galleries,  and  you  can 
sue  liis  fooli)aths  winding  through  brush  lots  and  W()«)tls. 
lie  does  much  harm  by  sucking  the  eggs  of  game  birds, 
iR'sides  eating  grass  and  vegetables.  This  is  one  of  the 
nuisance  aninjals  that  the  (Jray  Fox  helps  to  keep  down, 
und  it  should  be  renu.Mubered  to  iiis  creclit.  The  Cotton 
l{;il  was  so  nanu'd  betniuse  he  Wi\s  the*  familiar  species 
nf  (olton  lields,  and  was  su[»pose<l  always  to  line  his  nest 


340 


FO lIli-FOO TED  A  MEllKJA  NH 


with  cotton  that  he  luid  collected  and  stored,  but  he  as 
frequently  uses  leaves  and  grass. 

"Another  one  of  the  family  about  the  size  of  the  last 
is  the  Marsh  Hat,  who  is  so  fond  of  swimming  that  lu; 
seems  almost  like  a  link  between  the  true  Rats  and  tlu; 
Muskrat.     He  makes^  his  nest  at  the  foot  of  a  stuni[)  or 


Mausii  li at, 


sometimes  in  the  centre  of  a  little  island  of  reeds  as  llu' 
(Jrebe  does,  jnm[)ing  directly  from  the  nest  into  tlio 
water  and  swinnning  away. 

"The  Woinh  Tr<ul<\  oi-  l*<i<'k  lint  is  (]uite  a  characli'i'. 
Ilis  [u'rsonal  ai»[)eiiran(H'  is  extremely  liiindsome :  In' 
wears  a  coat  of  tawny  ijfrnv  fur  with  wliite  vest  mikI 
lioots:  ho  has  bit»'  mild  eves,  while  Iiis  face  weai's  ukip' 


JiATs  AM)  MICE 


^41 


red,  but  he  iis 


of  the  Iliibbits  gentle  expression  than  the  cruel,  greedy 
look  of  II  rat.  His  gnawing  habits  do  not  seem  to  get 
liiin  into  very  deep  disgrace  with  the  farmers ;  it  is  liis 
iiinhition  that  leads  him  into  trouble.  He  wislics  to  be 
an  architect,  bric-a-brac  collector,  and  pedler  all  in  one. 
if  he  and  his  wife  nialce  their  home  in  an  outbuilding  or 
attic  you  will  think  the  liouse  full  of  evil  spirits.     Tliis 


^Iw''          ^^^1 

j^       r  iSjty    ^^^^J^^^IB^^^^^^^^^^^^II 

1 

WKK^K^sj^i 

^^"'°*^'?^^u^^r^^^HB 

i 

"^Kt^^^^^^BS^ 

- 

■»  iafe*:-i«""»-— — •.»      ^_ 

-    % 

—sa^ 

W()(»l>    OH    J'A(  K    KaT. 

llat  comes,  sees,  takes,  hides,  and  sometimes  returns, 
articles  with  lightning  rapidity.  What  for,  no  Wise 
^hui  that  I  know  is  able  to  tell.  Do  the  Ifats  decide  to 
make  a  nest  under  a  busli,  immediately  they  set  to  work 
to  stack  up  a  heaj)  of  out-(h)or  rubbisli  as  higli  as  a  Musk- 
lat's  lodge;  paper,  sliavings,  corncoi)s,  chdiics  pins,  ohl 
stiaps  and  buckU's  from  the  stabl(»,  ends  of  i'o|)(!,  ncws- 
piqiers,  a  kid  glove,  all  iiaving  l)cen  found  stored  away 


342 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


inside  one  of  these  strange  homes.  Once  in  my  Colorado 
camping  days  a  pair  of  these  Rats  turned  our  'dug- 
out' camp  topsy-turvy  during  a  two  days'  absence. 
Tliey  filled  the  tea  kettle  from  a  heap  of  shavings  and 
splint  wood  that  had  been  cut  for  kindling,  mixed  a 
quantity  of  fish  hooks  in  a  sack  of  flour  that  was  up  on 
the  roof  logs,  emptied  a  case  of  shot  on  the  hearth,  and 
made  away  with  every  tin  spoon  our  outfit  could  boast. 
In  return,  they  filled  the  frying  pan  with  a  lot  of  sti(3ky 
cones  that  they  must  have  brought  from  half  a  mile 
awa}.  When  we  returned  they  seemed  to  think  they 
had  improved  the  camp  and  made  it  more  homelike, 
and  peeped  at  us  proudly  from  between  the  boughs. 

"  Rats,  however,  who  cannot  keep  their  handb^  off  the 
pro})erty  of  others,  may  be  interesting,  but  eve!».  if  tliey 
are  bric-a-brac  collectors,  they  never  should  be  allowed  a 
foothold  inside  one's  home.  Meddlesome  House  People, 
hear,  and  take  warning  I  " 

***** 

"  Be  careful.  Dodo,"  said  Olive  ;  "  ii:  you  keep  moving 
that  trap,  the  first  thing  you  know  the  door  will  come 
unhooked  and  all  those  mice  will  get  out,  and  Quick 
will  tear  everytliing  to  bits  trying  to  get  them." 

"Our  second  group,  the  Gopher  family,  contains 
upwards  of  thirty  members,  two  of  whicli  are  fairly 
common. 

*'The  Gophers  are  stout  burrowing  animals,  seven  or 
eiglit  inches  long,  with  outside  cheek  pouclies  for  carry- 
ing home  tlieir  provisions ;  strong,  long,  gnawing  tcetli, 
and  powerful  fore  limbs  armed  with  (les[)erate  claws  for 
digging  out  their  liomes.  I  lappily  they  do  not  live  very 
near  us,  but  th(;y  are  a  scourge  in  the  prairie  regions  of 


i*i^ 


HATS  AND  MICE 


348 


tlic  middle  West.  Gophers  not  only  destroy  grain  and 
tliu  roots  of  forage  plants,  turnips,  mangels,  etc.,  but 
they  waste  the  land  itself,  making  it  a  network  of  bur- 
row s  and  pitfalls  and  throwing  up  the  dirt  from  their 
lairs,  not  carrying  it  through  the  main  entrance  but 
bringing  it  out  of  side  ways,  and  heaping  it  until  it  makes 
great  mounds  that  cover  and  destroy  acres  of  sprouting 


PUUCHKU   OK   MULK    UuPHKR. 


crops.  Then  they  are  restless  animals,  moving  constantly 
iiiid  making  new  homes,  so  that  the  Gopher  plague  goes 
on  the  list  of  farming  miseries,  side  by  side  with  grass- 
hoppci's,  seven-year  locusts,  and  blizzards.  Yet  the 
farmer  seldom  thanks  the  Hawks  and  Owls  for  their 
missionary  work  in  the  Gopher  community,  and  wages 
war  on  the  Coyote  who,  in  (Jopher  Land  at  least,  does 


344 


FO  Uli-FOO TED  A  M ERICA  NS 


fannijig  more  good  than  harm.  The  (iophers  are  iv[\[. 
ous  though  easy  iinimals  to  tia[),  for  tliey  only  livi;  in 
families  during  a  very  short  time  in  the  year,  eacli  iiidi- 
vidual  preferring  a  nest  to  himself.     Poison  is  daiijer- 


UkAY   PonCKT   (ioPHKU. 


ous  to  domestic  animals,  when  scattered  about  freely  as 
it  would  have  to  be  in  such  cases,  so  that  much  hoiioi  is 
waitiufif  for  some  one  who  shall  invent  a  cure  for  tlif 
(io[)her  plague,  but  it  must  be  a  cure  that  is  not  woiso 
than  the  disease." 

"Perhaps  you  will  find  it  out,  Rap,"  said  DikId. 
smilin*g  confidently  at  him. 

"  The  well-known  Ihd,  PonchcJ  or  Mo/e  Gopher^  the 
cliief  species  of  the  middle  West,  has  a  clumsy  reddish- 
brown  body  as  long  as  a  C'hi[)muidv"s,  a  large  head,  iiinl 
very  wide,  hair-lined,  cheek    i)ouches    reaching  (o  the 


BATS  AND  MICE 


345 


sliouUlers ;  small  ears,  small  eyes,  ami  long  giiawincr 
tcH'ili  that  ovcrliaiin'  the  lips.  It  sleeps  the  winter 
sleep,  \vhi(;h  I  wisli  you  to  remember  the  Wise  Men  eall 

'•Tlie  (fyvr.y  P'  -ket  or  JVorfheru  Gopher  is  found 
fiutlier  north  than  any  of  its  kin,  touehing  his  ]{e(l 
l)i()tlier's  haunts,  and  ranging  from  ]\Iontana  to  the 
plains  of  the  S;iski\tchewan  country  where  Nez  shot  I'lis 
Moose.  This  s[)ecies  is  smaller  than  the  Red  Pouched 
Gopher,  and  has  hoary,  brownish-gray  fur;  otherwise  it 
does  not  greatl}^  differ  from  it. 


?ap,"   said    Dodo. 


KaN'CAKOO    IvAT, 


"Now  come  two  liohter,  more  oraceful  fourfoots  be- 
loiioiiig  to  the  Family  of  Pouched  Rats  and  Mice,  — 
the  Kangaroo  Rat  and  the  Pocket  blouse. 

"The  Kanyaroo  liat  looks  like  a  joke  on  legs.     To 


346 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


begin  at  tlie  opposite  end  from  usual,  he  has  a  tail  six 
and  three  quarter  inches  long,  while  liis  body  only 
measures  five  inclies  and  a  half.  Tliis  tail  ends  in  a 
sort  of  brush,  and  he  can  use  it  as  a  rudder  or  turn  ;iiul 
twist  it  like  a  snake.  Next  come  wide  hips  and  a  very 
liigli  pair  of  legs,  particularly  long  from  foot  to  knee 
like  the  Jack  Rabbit's  ;  after  this  tlie  Rat  slopes  rapidly 
to'ward  short  arms,  a  pointed  head,  trimmed  with  outside 
cheek  pouches,  fur-lined  round  ears,  bright  eyes,  and 
long  whiskers.  His  coat  is  of  soft  shaded  brown.  These 
Rats  are  rarely  seen,  for  they  feed  at  night,  but  1  have 
watclied  them  by  mooidight,  and  they  hop  about  on 
their  iiind  legs  like  some  mechanical  toy,  holding  tiieir 
tiny  paws  together  across  their  chests,  as  if  they  did 
not  know  what  to  do  with  them.  Tiiey  are  soutlicrly 
Rats,  enduring  great  heat,  and  they  make  large  hxlges 
or  houses,  sometimes  two  and  three  feet  high,  aniontr 
tlie  Spanish  Bayonet  plants  and  aloes,  which  servo  as 
hotels  to  several  families. 

"Tlie  .Pocket  Mounc  also  belongs  to  tlie  south,  and 
is  an  inch  smaller  than  the  Kangaroo  Rat.  It,  ton, 
has  a  long  tail,  long  back  legs,  and  outside  cheek 
])ou(dK's.  Its  coat  is  a  lighter  brown  than  that  of  tlie 
Deer  Mouse,  and  it  also  wears  a  white  vest. 

"  I^ast,  least,  but  most  interesting  of  all  is  the  'honp- 
in;/  }r()tti«\  with  brown  coat,  white  vest,  three  inches  of 
body,  and  live  intdies  of  tail ;  and  surely  a  three-inch 
Mouse  who  can  jump  ten  feet  is  entitled  to  give  his 
name  to  a  family.  It  is  a  gentle  Mouse,  too,  and  does 
little  hnrm  to  the  farmer  in  the  northein  half  of  North 
America,  where  it  belongs,  being  content  with  seeds. 
tlie  softiM-  nuts,  and  berries.     It  stores  up  food  in  gionnd 


BATS  AND  MICE 


347 


he  has  a  tail  six 
1  his  hocly  duly 
s  tail  ends  in  a 
Icier  or  turn  aiul 
hips  and  a  very 
3m  foot  to  knee 
at  slopes  ra[)i(lly 
ned  with  outside 
bright  e3X's,  and 
d  brown,  'riiose 
light,  but  1  liavo 
Y  hop  about  on 
3y,  holding  tlR'ii' 
,  as  if  they  -lid 
3y  are  southerly 
ike  large  lodges 
eet  high,  anionic 
,  whieh  serve  as 

»  the  south,  and 
1  Uat.  It,  ton. 
I  outside  (diei'k 
than  that  of  tlie 
vest. 

all  is  the  JiDiip- 
:,  three  iiudies  of 
•(dy  a  three-inch 
illed  to  give  liis 
se,  too,  and  doi's 
•n  lialf  of  North 
itent  with  scimIs. 
ip  food  in  ground 


Poc'KKT  Mouse. 


Ijiurows,  but  makes  its  nest  in  a  variety  of  places, 
rsiiully  it  is  a  careful,  well-lined  att'air  oidy  a  few 
iiulics  underground,  but  frequently  it  creeps  into  a 
lioilow  post  or  makes  its  home  in  the  chiidcs  of  a 
woodpile,  from  whicdi  it  steals  toward  dusk  when  the 
Rats  come  out.  It  liibernates  in  tlie  most  titorough 
manner,  one  Wise  Man  believing  that  it  stays  in  longer 
tlian  that  slee[)yhead,  the  Woochduick.  It  usually 
goes  deep  into  the  ground  or  to  some  out-of-the-way 
coiner  for  its  long  nap.  Tlie  waking  hours  of  tlie 
,luin[)ing  Mouse  are  tlie  most  interesting  to  us,  when 
it  moves  among  the  waving  hay  lields,  creeping  slowly 
on  its  uneven  legs,  tilling  its  pocd^ets  with  provisions, 
and  then,  siuhlenly  folding  its  arms,  takes  to  the  air. 
Hounding  along  without  seeming  to  toU(d»  ground  after 
the  first  leap,  it  is  tlie  perfect  picture  of  free  motion." 


348 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  Oh,  tlio  tiai)  is  coining  open  and  tlie  mice  aie  gettiii[)' 
out  I  Hold  (^ni(;ic,  Nat,  do  I  "  screamed  Dodo.  TIk  le 
was  a  scunic,  a  tew  shrill  barks,  a  contused  spectacle  of 
Dodo  fallino-  over  the  trap,  Mv.  Wolf  tumblino-  over 
Dodo  and  [)ntting  his  heavy  paw  on  a  running  mouse, 
while  Quick  disi»p[)eared  under  the  Wolfskin  iii<r. 
When  Dodo  untangled  herself,  four  Meadow  Mice, 
killed  l)y  a  single  shidce  eacli  from  Qui(!k,  were  sciit- 
tered  about  tlie  camp,  while  Mr.  Wolf  still  lield  his  prize 
under  his  paw. 

"  It's  my  fault,  I  know,  but  my  menagerie  is  all 
deaf'  I  "  (juavered  Dodo. 

"Never  mind,"  said  the  Doctor;  "it  is  rather  soon, 
but  that  is  ',\hat  usually  happens  to  private  menageries." 


.Ii  Mi'iNii  Mill  si:, 


ce  are  gettiiio- 
Dodo.  Tin  re 
lI  spectacle  of 
.umbling  over 
liming  mouse, 
^^olfskin  ni<r. 
leadow  Mice, 
ck,  were  seat- 
held  bis  prize 

3nagerie  is  nil 

is  rather  soon, 
Lc  menageries." 


XXV 


MISCHIEF   MAKKHS 


HM 


350 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


why  Quick  and  Mr.  Wolf  shared  their  rug  with  a  mon- 
grel terrier,  a  collie,  and  a  setter  pup,  —  six  pounds  of 
sausages,  divided  between  five  dogs  of  mixed  sizes  aiul 
a  coon,  having  produced  good  nature  and  a  desire  to  l>o 
to  sleep  in  Dogville. 

Rap  had  brought  his  Gray  Squirrel  as  a  gift  to  Nut, 
and  an  old  wheel  cage  having  been  found  in  the  attic, 
Frisk,  as  they  named  him,  was  safely  housed  in  it  and 
became  an  object  of  great  interest. 

"  He  is  ever  so  much  bigger  than  the  Red  Squirrels 
and  Chipmunks  we  have  here  at  the  farm,"  said  Nat, 
"  and  he  has  the  finest  tail  I  ever  saw." 

"  The  plumy  tail  is  an  important  feature  in  the  Squir- 
rel family.  Saiuridee,  the  name  the  Wise  Men  give  it, 
means  '  those  who  sit  in  the  shadow  of  the  tail,'  and 
you  can  see  when  Fiisk  jerks  his  tail  over  his  back  that 
it  makes  quite  a  good  umbrella." 

"Chipmunks  haven't  such  nice  tails,  though,"  said 
Rap;  '■'theirs  are  (piite  thin  and  not  a  bit  plumy." 

"They  belong  to  the  striped-backed  Ground  Squir- 
rels, who  are  of  a  lighter  build  in  every  way." 

"  Are  tliere  any  Ground  Scpiirrels  ?  I  thought  thoy  all 
lived  in  trees.  Do  Scpiirrels  gnaw  things,  and  are  lliey 
nuisance  animals  like  the  mice  and  rats?"  asked  Nat. 

"The  Ground  Squirrels  are  all  more  or  less  mis- 
chievous, as  you  will  realize  wlien  you  remember  (liat 
in  climbing  the  ladder  to  look  for  tlie  Woodchuck  and 
I'rairio  Dog  you  found  them  on  the  general  branch 
belonging  to  the  (iround  Scpiirrel  family." 

"So  we  did,"  said  Olive;  "but  I  liardly  realized  lliiit 
tliey  were  related  to  Scpiirrels  oxcei)t  in  the  fact  tliiit 
they  are  all  gnawers." 


MISCHIEF  MAKERS 


351 


g  witli  a  mon- 
six  pounds  of 
lixecl  sizes  and 
a  desire  to  <40 

a  gift  to  Nnt, 
id  in  the  attic, 
)used  in  it  and 

5  Red  Squirrels 
Lvni,"  said  Nat, 

re  in  the  Sqnii- 
ie  Men  give  it, 
»f  the  tail,'  and 
er  his  back  that 

,  though,"  said 
it  plumy." 
Ground  Squir- 

way." 

thought  they  all 
gs,  and  are  tliov 
? ''  asked  Nat. 
ore  or  less  mis- 
I  renieniher  tluvl 
Woodeluudv  and 
>  general  brancli 

july. 

•dly  realized  tluit 
in  the  faet  tlud 


"Perhaps,  daughter,  you  will  write  the  list  on  the 
blackboard  for  us,  so  that  we  shall  see  the  connection 
more  plainly.  There  are  sixty  or  seventy  North  Ameri- 
can species  of  Tree  and  Ground  Squirrels,  but  if  I  tell 
you  of  seven  or  eight,  besides  the  Woodchuck  and 
Prairie  Dog,  which  you  already  know,  it  will  bo  as 
much  as  you  can  remenil)er." 

Tree  Squirrels. 

.Mediuin-sized  ears.  Cheeks  with  inside  jiouclies  for  carrying 
food.    Clawed  feet  suitable  for  clind)ing.     Plumy  tails. 

Here  l)elong,  beginning  with  the  smallest,  the  Flying,  lied, 
(J ray,  and  Fox  Squirrels. 

Ground  Squirrels. 

Smaller,  with  cheek  pouohes,  living  in  ground,  but  spending 
some  time  in  the  trees.  The  best  known  of  this  group  is  the  Chip- 
niiink. 

Next  come  the  heavy,  ground  burrowers,  the  Prairie  Dog  and 
Woodchuck,  whom  certainly  nobody  Nvoidd  ever  accuse  of  trying 
to  climb  trees,  and  then  follow  two  S[)ermoi)hil('s,  the  mischievous 
(iroiMid  Sipiirrels  (so  called)  of  the  plains,  who  seem  to  bear  a 
vcscniblanct^  to  both  the  tree  and  ground  varieties,  sonm  having 
large  and  others  small  tails. 

*'You  know  something  about  our  Gommon  Squirrels, 
Kap;  suppose  you  tell  us  what  you  have  noticed,"  said 
the  Doctor,  "and  I  will  lielp  you  over  hard  places." 

"  Pve  watclied  S(juirrels  a  good  deal,  but  I  shoiddn't 
like  to  say  tliat  1  know  tliem,"  said  Rap,  hesitating ; 
''fur  wlien  you  think  you've  seen  all  their  ways,  you 
lind  you've  only  just  begun.  Tlicre  are  plenty  of 
Squiirels  heieabout,  and  they  seem  to  live  in  a  great 
muny  different  places.     Tlie  (Jray  Squirrels  and  the  Fly- 


352 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMEIilCANS 


iiig  ones  seem  to  like  the  Miller's  far  woods  best,  wher 
there  are  oaks,  hickories,  and  beech  trees,  but  the  lied 
Squirrels  live  farther  over  toward  our  house,  where  the 
trees  mostly  have  cones  and  berries  like  spruces  and 
cedars,  with  choke  cherries  and  hazel  bushes  growiiin' 
along  the  stone  fences,  and  the  Chipmunks  live  riglit 
in  the  stone  fence  and  under  our  woodshed. 

"  I  think  tlie  Flying  Squirrel  is  tlie  prettiest  of  theiu 
all,"  continued  Ka}),  pausing  as  if  he  did  not  know- 
exactly  where  to  begin.  "It  has  n  dear  little  face  with 
very  black  eyes  and  a  few  long  whiskers.  It  is  a  sort 
of  mousy  gray  on  to[)  and  white  underneath,  and  ils 
paws  look  like  tiny  bits  of  hands,  with  the  tops  of  the 
fingers  swelled  out,  and  it  has  long  nails  that  are  (k>v- 
ered  up  by  the  fur.*' 

"(lood!"  exclaimed  the  Doctor;  "  liow  did  you  see 
so  mu(di  in  the  dark,  which  is  the  only  time  tins  Squir- 
rel is  out?" 

"I  liad  one  in  a  cage  last  winter;  the  Miller's  boy 
gave  it  to  me.  It  grew  very  tame,  and  I  let  it  out  in  the 
spring  so  it  could  go  and  lind  a  mate  and  not  be  lonely, 
but  it  came  back  to  the  lio^^e  hist  sunnner  and  crawled 
in  niv  window.  At  first  I  tlunmht  it  was  a  bat  that  had 
flown  in.  and  then  I  saw  that  it  liad  a  tail  and  no  wings." 

*'  If  it  bus  no  wings,  how  can  it  fly?"  asked  Dodo. 

"The  skin  of  its  hiwk  rcaidies  down  on  its  legs,  the 
siimc  as  if  I  pnt  a  Idaidvet  over  my  bacdc  and  fastened  it 
to  my  wrists  and  ankles.  It  runs  np  to  tlu;  to[>  of  a 
tree,  or  out  to  the  end  of  a  brantdi,  and  gives  a  l)ig  jmiij) 
down  or  across  to  another  tree.  It  doesn't  really  fly  or 
lliq>  its  iirms  as  if  fhey  were  wings,  but  spreads  them  to 
keep  from  falling  and  catches  the  wind  like  a  Hat  kite."' 


i  best,  whei' 
but  the  Red 
5e,  where  the 
spruces  an 'I 
ilies  gi'owiii!^- 
ks  live  riglil 
i. 

.tiest  of  them 
lid  not  know 
ttle  face  with 
It  is  a  sort 
leath,  and  lis 
le  tops  of  liie 
,  that  are  cov- 

w  did  you  see 
nie  this  Sqnir- 

Q  Miller's  ))oy 
t  it  out  in  the 
not  be  lonely, 
av  and  erawU'il 
a  bat  that  had 
ind  no  wings." 
isked  Dodo. 
)n  its  legs,  the 
md  fastened  it 
o  th(!  top  of  a 
ves  a  big  jmnp 
rt  really  lly  or 
;pivads  them  to 
ike  a  tlat  kite." 


Fl.YIMt  SijUtUKKI.H. 


MISCHIEF  MAKERS 


353 


"  Why  doesn't  it  go  crooked  and  spin  around  ? " 
asked  Nat ;  "  a  kite  would  if  it  hadn't  a  string  to  hold 
it  and  a  long  tail." 

"You  must  remember,"  said  the  Doctor,  "that  a 
Squirrel  is  alive  and  springs  in  the  direction  he  wishes 
to  go ;  the  skin  flaps  help  him  to  remain  in  the  air,  and 
his  tail,  which  spreads  flatly  and  is  not  thick  like  other 
Squirrels',  both  balances  and  steers  him.  Olive,  dear, 
look  in  the  portfolio  and  give  me  the  picture  of  the 
Flying  Squirrel.  There,  now  you  can  see  at  a  glance 
how  he  goes  ! " 

"  Then  they  can  only  fly  down  or  across,  but  not  up," 
said  Olive. 

"They  can  rise  very  slightly,  but  not  much  higher 
than  a  Gray  Squirrel  can  by  leaping.  Tell  us  what 
else  you  have  noticed  about  them.  Rap." 

"  The  first  time  I  ever  saw  them  was  three  years  ago 
in  spring.  The  Miller's  boy  said  there  was  a  hickory 
tree  with  a  hole  in  it,  back  of  their  pond,  where  a  lot  of 
long-tailed  Bats  lived.  He  was  looking  for  Wood- 
peckers' eggs  late  one  afternoon,  and  he  saw  the  hole 
bnt  he  couldn't  quite  reach  it,  so  he  knocked  on  the 
bark  to  see  if  a  bird  would  come  out,  and  instead  out 
popped  one  of  tliese  Squirrels,  but  the  light  seemed  to 
hurt  its  eyes  and  it  hurried  in  again. 

"  A  couple  of  weeks  after,  when  the  moon  was  full, 
we  went  up  to  the  woods  about  Bat  time  and  climbed 
way  up  in  an  oak  tree  that  stood  close  to  the  hickory, 
and  waited  for  the  long-tailed  Bats  to  come  out. 

"Tlie  Niglithawks  were  out,  and  the  Whip-poor-wills 
and  a  couple  of  kinds  of  Bats  came  along  pretty  soon, 
and  wc  saw  a  Skunk  sneaking  across  to  the  pond,  but 
ax 


354 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


nothing  came  out  of  the  hole  in  the  hickory.  I  thouglit 
the  Miller's  boy  had  mistaken  the  tree,  when  all  of  a 
sudden  he  gave  me  a  pinch.  I  looked  over,  and  there 
were  the  things  coming  out  of  the  hole  and  runniiig 
and  scrambling  up  the  tree  like  Mice.  I  knew  as  soon 
as  I  saw  them  they  were  some  kind  of  Squirrels,  but  I 
didn't  know  they  could  fly,  until  one  got  to  the  top  of 
the  tree  and  put  riglit  off  into  the  air  to  another  tree 
twenty  feet  away,  all  the  others  after  him  as  if  they 
wej'e  playing,  for  there  were  a  couple  more  holes  fur- 
ther up  in  the  tree  that  we  didn't  see  at  first. 

"  We  couldn't  make  out  about  the  way  they  flew  tliat 
night,  so  we  kept  going  there  all  summer  and  up  to 
snow  time  we  found  out  a  good  many  things.  Tlie 
Squirrels  didn't  mind  us  a  bit  after  they  saw  we 
wouldn't  touch  them.  They  had  sort  of  playhouse 
nests  made  of  leaves  and  stuff  up  in  the  tree  brandies 
that  they  used  in  summer,  but  in  spring  when  the  little 
ones  are  born,  and  when  it  grows  cold  in  the  fall,  the}- 
stay  in  the  holes." 

"Do  they  lii-her-natef''  asked  Dodo,  who  was  taking 
great  pains  to  learn  the  word. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  they  sleep  all  the  time  in 
winter  like  Woodchucks,  but  they  pack  away  food, 
because  we  saw  them,  and  they  stay  in  their  lioles  any- 
way. There's  another  real  cute  thing  they  do, —  tlie 
moiliers  take  their  little  ones  and  fly  away  with  tlieni 
if  they  are  frigliiened. 

"  Last  June  one  of  the  oldest  Squirrel  trees  was 
partly  blown  over  against  another,  find  though  it  was 
dtiy  time,  a  Squirrel  ran  out  of  her  home  with  a  good- 
sized  young  one  sort  of  tucked  up  between  her  arms 


MISCHIEF  MAKEBS 


355 


who  was  taking 


and  her  chin.  She  sailed  right  off  to  an  oak  tree  with 
it  and  went  back  to  get  another,  but  when  she  saw  that 
the  tree  was  jammed,  she  seemed  to  know  that  it  couldn't 
fall  any  further  and  so  she  went  over  and  brought  the 
young  one  back.  Do  you  know  she  held  it  and  steadied 
it  with  her  mouth,  and  it  had  its  arms  tight  round  her 
neck  as  if  it  were  a  real  child ! " 

"  I'm  going  up  to  see  them  next  spring,"  said  Nat. 
"Are  they  good  or  bad  Squirrels,  and  what  do  they 
eat?" 

"  They  are  harmless  little  creatures,"  said  the  Doctor, 
"and  trouble  the  farmer  very  little.  Their  chief  food, 
beside  nuts,  consists  of  seeds  of  various  kinds,  insects, 
beetles,  and,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  a  few  birds'  eggs  and 
birds  that  their  night-prowling  habits  and  flying  leaps 
make  it  very  easy  for  them  to  take.  All  the  Tree 
Squirrels  do  some  harm,  if  there  are  too  many  about, 
as  well  as  iheir  ground  cousins,  but  they  are  so  jolly 
and  companionable,  adding  ho  the  beauty  of  woods  and 
byways  and  the  pleasure  of  our  walks,  that  1  am  in- 
clined to  excuse  the  tribe  as  heedless  miscliief  makers, 
rather  than  condemn  them  as  evil-doers." 

"  Red  Squirrels  are  pretty  bad  to  have  near  the  gar- 
den," said  Rap,  feelingly.  "  This  year  the}'  split  up  half 
of  our  seckel  pears  to  eat  the  seeds,  and  they  stole  lots 
of  the  red  pie-cherries  to  get  the  pits.  They  think  that 
clierry  stones  are  some  early  sort  of  nuts,  I  guess,  and 
half  of  July^  they  sat  up  in  that  tree  twirling  them 
ronnd  in  their  paws  while  they  gnawed  into  the  meat. 
I  wouldn't  mind  that  so  much,  but  they  suck  birds' 
eggs  and  bite  little  birds,  too,  when  they  feel  like  it. 
They  know  where  all  the  birds  live,  for  they  are  up 


356 


FO  UR-FOO TED  AMERICA  NS 


w. 


and  down  every  tree.  They  can  watch  the  bush  n*  sts 
when  they  cut  across  lots  on  the  fences  and  walls,  as 
they  do  all  the  time,  chattering  and  carrying  tales  about 
what  they  see. 

"  A  pair  of  Red  Squirrels  made  a  nest  under  the  old 
shingles  in  our  woodshed.  The  little  ones  were  very 
funny  at  first,  with  very  big  heads  and  bare  skin,  and 
as  blind  as  kittens.  I  thought  that  these  were  day 
Squirrels,  but  this  pair  used  to  whisk  out  at  niolit 
sometimes,  and  didn't  they  chatter  and  scold  if  any  one 
went  near  the  nest !  Mother  said  they  were  good  com- 
pany  for  her." 

"Why  do  you  call  them  Red  Squirrels,  uncle?"  asked 
Nat.  "  I  saw  the  pair  down  at  Rap's  house,  and  they 
had  bright  brown  coats  and  white  vests,  such  as  the 
Deer  Mouse  wears,  not  the  same  color  that  we  call  red 
in  birds  like  the  Tanager  and  Cardinal." 

"  It  is  a  careless  way  of  speaking,  Nat ;  there  are 
very  few  bright-colored  Mammals  anywhei-e  in  the 
world,  and  there  are  none,  belonging  on  our  tree,  who 
wear  gayer  coats  tlian  the  Ocelot  or  Red  Fox.  So  for 
lack  of  anything  brighter  we  call  this  Fox  red  when 
blight  bay  would  be  the  exact  term,  and  we  say  lied 
Squirrel  when  we  mean  rusty  brown.  However,  you 
may  call  tliis  happy-go-lucky  fellow  any  color  you 
please,  it  will  not  alter  his  disposition,  for  he  is  the 
most  interesting,  impertinent,  inquisitive,  and  talkative 
member  of  his  family.  In  spring  and  summer  lie  is 
both  heard  and  seen,  leaping  from  stump  to  stump  in 
some  cleared  field,  exploring  old  logs,  and  rummagino 
in  tlie  brusli  pile,  as  if  looking  up  storage  for  his  pilfer- 
ings,  squabbling  with  birds,  scolding  Chipmunks  tliat 


MISCHIEF  MAKERS 


357 


come  too  near  his  home,  and  keeping  up  an  incessant 
chiitter  from  morning  until  night.  Then,  as  soon  as  the 
seeds  are  formed  in  the  cones,  he  spends  his  days  in  the 
evergreen  trees  shelling  off  the  cone  scales  and  drop- 
ping the  cobs  to  the  ground,  packing  his  cheek  pockets 
full  of  seeds  to  carry  home,  or  else,  if  he  has  plenty  of 
time,  dropping  the  cones  to  tlie  ground,  and  carrying 
tlieni  one  by  one  to  his  cupboard  to  shell  at  leisure. 

"He  makes  his  home  in  a  great  many  places,  both 
above  and  below  ground,  but  prefers  a  nice  tree  hole 
for  winter,  with  its  crevices  well  stored  with  nuts  and 
seeds,  though  he  will  eat  almost  anything  he  can  find. 
He  does  not  hibernate,  but  merely  stays  indoors  dur- 
ing bitterly  cold  and  windy  weather.  If  it  is  snowy 
and  bright,  you  will  often  see  his  footprints  in  the 
vicinity  of  one  of  his  storehouses.  If  his  provisions 
fail,  he  gets  into  mischief  by  pruning  trees  of  their 
biggest  buds,  or  making  excursions  to  the  woods  and 
meddling  with  the  bait  in  traps  set  for  better  game  ;  for 
though  the  Red  Squirrel  has  sweet  meat,  he  is  rather 
small  to  be  classed  with  food  animals.  That  doubtful 
honor  belongs  to  his  big  brotliers,  the  Gray  and  Fox 
Squirrels.  Cheerful  as  he  is,  he  is  not  without  troubles 
of  his  own.  Hawks  and  Owls  will  pounce  upon  him, 
and  many  annoying  insects  insist  upon  living  in  his 
furry  coat.  These  parasites,  as  they  are  called,  aboimd 
on  all  'nuisance  animals,'  and  seem  to  be  one  of  Nat- 
ure's ways  of  keeping  them  from  overrunning  the  earth. 

"  There  is  no  need  of  describing  the  Gray  Squirrel,  for 
you  have  one  to  look  at  to  your  hearts'  content.  See  ! 
he  lias  eaten  all  the  nuts  he  wishes  and  is  trying  to  bury 
that  last  one  in  the  sand  in  the  bottom  of  the  cage." 


353 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"See 


"  He  uses  his  paws  like  hands,"  cried  Dodo, 
liow  he  pats  and  scratches  to  cover  the  nut,  and  curls 
his  tail  over  his  back.  Now  he  has  gone  in  the  wheel 
for  a  race.  He  is  ever  so  tame ;  how  long  have  you  liad 
him,  Rap?" 

"  Only  about  a  week.  Gray  Squirrels  grow  tame  very 
quick,  but  you  must  be  careful  they  don't  bite  you. 
One  nipped  my  hand  almost  through,  a  couple  of  years 
ago,  when  I  put  it  into  his  nest." 

"  Tlien  they  live  in  holes,  too,"  said  Nat ;  "  they  must 
need  quite  big  ones." 

"  Yes,  and  they  build  great  wide  tree  nests,  too,  for  I 
climbed  up  to  what  I  thouglit  was  a  Crow's  nest  one 
year,  and  it  had  four  queer  little  blind  Squirrels  in  it. 
They  took  ever  so  long  to  grow,  nearly  three  montiis, 
and  after  that  I  used  to  see  the  old  ones  sleeping  in  the 
nest  in  daytime.  Tliey  seem  to  go  out  most  morning 
and  night." 

''Do  they  sleep  in  winter?"  asked  Dodo. 

"  I'm  not  sure,"  said  Hap ;  "  sometimes  I've  seen  ilieni 
in  the  winter  and  sometimes  I  have  not." 

"It  depends  upon  the  weather,"  said  tlie  Doctor. 
"The  Gray  S(piirrel  does  not  really  hihcrnafe^  but  stays 
curled  up  in  bad  weather  like  the  lied  Scpiinel,  just  as 
in  very  cold  places  he  nests  in  a  liole ;  in  a  medhuii 
climate  he  uses  either  a  hole  or  tiee  nest,  and  further 
south  usually  a  tree  nest.  One  jcnuirkablc  thing  al)niit 
liim  is  that  instead  of  storing  his  food  in  piles,  or  lillinij 
rock  or  tree  luillows,  be  makes  a  sei)aratc  cache  for  eaoli 
nut,  and  exactly  how  he  liiuls  tlic  place  again,  tlic  very 
wisest  of  Wise  Men  is  not  sure.  Some  say  it  is  by  a 
keen  sense  of  smell,  others  a  good  memory.     For  niysclf. 


s 

1  Dodo.     "See 

nut,  and  curls 

ne  in  the  wlieel 

g  have  you  liacl 

grow  tame  very 
don't  bite  vou. 
couple  of  years 

'at ;  "  they  must 

nests,  too,  for  I 
I!row's  nest  one 
L  Squirrels  in  it. 
y  three  niontns, 
3  sleeping  in  tlie 
it  most  morning 

)odo. 

s  I've  seen  them 
t." 

xid  the  Doctor. 
('rnafi\  but  stays 
Sfjuirrcl,  just  as 
e ;  in  a  nuMlinm 
lest,  and  furllicr 
;ablo  thing  aUout 
n  piles,  or  (illiiii: 
to  cache  for  eiicli 
(!  aijfain,  the  very 
ne  say  it  is  by  a 
)ry.     VoY  myself. 


THK   GllAY   Stil'imiKL. 


^  *      -        ' 


t 


MISCHIEF  MAKEUS 


359 


I  think  it  would  be  easier  to  remember  where  a  nut  was 
buried  than  to  smell  it  through  several  inches  of  snow 
and  frozen  ground." 

'■'•  Oil  dear !  "  sighed  Dodo,  "  if  he  has  such  a  smeller 
as  that,  how  he  must  choke  when  he  lives  in  a  wood 
where  there  are  Skunks." 

"  One  thing  more  about  this  popular  Squirrel,  who 
with  us,  as  you  see,  wears  a  light  gray  winter  coat  tinged 
with  brown.  Further  north  he  sometimes  appears  with- 
out rhyme  or  reason  in  a  fine  black  coat,  just  as  the 
Scieech  Owl  is  sometimes  gray  and  sometimes  red  —  a 
Dichromatic  Phase  is  what  the  Wise  Men  call  this. 

"  If  the  Gray  Squirrel  changes  his  hue  according  to 
whore  he  lives,  his  cousin  the  great  Fox  Squirrel  out- 
docs  even  the  Varying  Hare.  I  will  show  you  some 
colon  i>  '"tures  of  him  in  my  Audubon  and  Bachman's 
Quadi    ,'    '     that  I  sent  for  to  town  last  week. 

"  See,  one  is  black  with  white  nose  and  eai*s,  one  is 
gray  with  yellowish  legs,  and  a  third  is  yellowish  brown 
with  white  ears,  nose,  and  a  dark  face.  The  commonest 
coiit  worn,  and  the  one  most  often  seen,  is  dap[)led  gray, 
with  the  nose,  ears,  feet,  and  under-parts  wliitish.  One 
thing  you  can  be  sure  of,  no  matter  wliat  this  Sipiirrel's 
coloring  may  be,  he  is  very  large  (less  than  two  inclies 
shorter  than  a  Woodclnu^k),  has  a  long  tail,  and  white 
ears  and  nose.  He  is  found  in  some  one  of  his  many 
coats  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States,  where  he  can 
tind  high  ground  and  tall  pine  trees,  lie  likes  cones  and 
has  his  home  nest  and  nursery  in  a  tree  hole,  though  he 
usually  makes  an  outdoor  nest  wliich  he  uses  as  a  summer 
house.  If  you  luippen  to  be  near  where  the  Fox  S(piir- 
rels  live,  yon  will  surely  see  or  liear  them,  for  they  come 


360 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


out  by  day  and  liave  a  loud,  barking  cry.  As  a  rule, 
they  take  life  easily,  making  their  homes  in  colonics 
near  grain  fields  and  managing  to  do  the  farmers  a  gieat 
deal  of  damage.  But  as  many  of  these  Squirrels  arc 
shot  for  food,  the  farmer  gets  some  of  his  grain  back  in 
tlie  shape  of  Squirrel  meat. 


CUII'MUNK. 

"Now  let  us  spend  five  minutes  on  tlie  ground  witli 
the  Chipmunk  and  liis  kin.  You  all  know  the  ('Iiip- 
nnndc  as  well  as  you  do  tlie  ('lii)»ping  Sjjarrow,  even 
if  you  liad  not  liis  j)ictur(^  before;  yon." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  know  him  just  as  well  as  I  do  a  Uohiii." 
said  Dodo.  "lie's  llu;  Sipiirrel  that  has  a  hole  midcr 
one  of  the  s[)ru('('s  wiiere  tlu;  hannnoek  is  hung,  and 
Htays  mostly  on  the  ground,  but  runs  \ip  trees  for  cones 
and  to  peep  in  nests,  too,  Homelimes.     lie's  little  and 


m 


MISCHIEF  MAKERS 


361 


■.     As  a  rule, 

5S  ill  colonies 

inners  a  great 

Squirrels  arc 

irraiii  back  iii 


u'  ground  \vitl> 
now  llu'  Cliip- 
Sparrow,  even 

I  do  a  Uolnii," 

IS  a  liole  undor 

is   hung,  and 

trees  for  cones 

llo\s  little  and 


jerky ;  his  coat  is  brown  and  yellow,  with  black  and  light 
stripes  running  the  long  way  of  liim.  His  tail  is  rather 
tliin,  and  I  know  he's  got  cheek  pockets,  because  I've 
seen  tliein  puffed  out  so  full  he  couldn't  speak,  and  that 
one  by  the  hammock  is  as  friendly  as  a  Catbird." 

''  Good !  "  cried  the  Doctor,  while  the  others  clapped 
tlii'ir  hands.  "  You  have  given  us  an  excellent  snap- 
shot picture  of  his  Munkship.  If  you  could  look  into 
that  hole  under  tlie  spruce,  you  would  see  that  there  aie 
inaiiy  little  passages  and  storerooms  running  this  way 
and  that,  from  tlie  bedroom  where  the  Ciiipmunk  is 
probably  sleeping  soundly  at  this  moment.  They  have 
tiiiu  fur,  like  the  Flying  Scpiirrel,  and  dread  the  cold  so 
inucli  that  tlicy  h<de  up  early  and  never  even  peep  out 
until  March  ;  so  if  you  ever  see  a  small  S(|[uirrel  frisking 
over  the  snow,  you  will  know  that  it  is  a  Red  S»[uirrel 
and  not  a  Chipmunk,  without  looking  for  his  stripes. 
They  also  cache  food  in  different  phices,  like  the  (iray 
Sqnirrel,  and  nest  often  in  old  stumjjs  or  under  stone 
fences.  They  eat  all  sorts  of  seeds,  from  weed  seeds  to 
cherry  pits,  some  insects,  and  they  also,  I  am  sorry  to 
say,  suck  birds'  oggs. 

'•Only  this  summer,  Dodo,  I  saw  your  pet  sitting 
near  tlie  liammock  liolding  a  IJobin's  egg  carefully  in 
ills  hands,  while  he  was  sh)wly  su(d\ing  egg-nog  out  of 
lis  hcauti fully  tinted  cup.  A  Ixxdc,  and  a  big  one  at 
that,  could  bo  written  about  the  Chij)mnnk's  interesting 
ways,  but  we  must  leave  him  to  glance  at  the  pictures 
III'  two  of  his  vagnbond  kin,  of  the  Spermopliile  iMunch 
III' the  housc;  that  bother  the  farmers  of  the  plains  and 
prairies,  one  even  scrambling  among  the  ledges  of  the 
Uneky  Mountains. 


362 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


J' 


,.,(1 


"  Spermophile  means  seed  lover,  and  these  little  beasts 
eat  seeds  of  every  description,  and  are  cannibals  to  boot. 
I  have  merely  a  bowing  acquaintance  with  them,  but 
the  Chief  of  the  Wise  Animal  Men  at  Washington 
says:  'Scarcely  a  seed  or  grain  grows  where  they  live 
that  is  not  eaten  by  them  .  .  .  wheat,  oats,  bailey, 
rye,  corn,  etc.  .  .  .  But  their  food  is  by  no  muuns 
restricted  to  seeds,  for  they  are  fond  of  fruits,  roots, 
and  insects  .  .  .  eat  lizards,  mice,  or  any  kind  of  fresh 
meat.  ...  If  one  of  their  own  species  is  found  dead, 
it  is  promptly  eaten,  thus  proving  that  they  are  canni- 
bals. .  .  .'  They  do  eat  harmful  insects  also,  but  not 
enough  to  pay  for  the  crops  of  corn  and  grjiin,  whieli 
they  commence  to  devour  .as  soon  as  the  seed  is  planted. 
And  they  keep  on,  with  the  ear  in  the  milk  and  the  ripe 


y 


H'l'lUl'Kl)   SrKKMOl'IIII.K. 


^s 


MISCHIEF  MAKERS 


303 


lese  little  beasts 
nnibals  to  boot. 
witb  them,  but 
at   Washington 
where  they  live 
it,   oats,   bailey, 
Ls   by   no  means 
of  fruits,  roots, 
ny  kind  of  fresh 
3S  is  found  dead, 
,  they  are  canni- 
cts  also,  but  not 
and  grain,  which 
e  seed  is  planted, 
milk  and  the  ripe 


grain,  cutting  and  gnawing  the  season  through.  The 
Spcrmophiles,  therefore,  are  on  the  farmer's  misery  list 
with  the  Gophers,  and  the  owners  of  wheat  fields,  at 
least,  are  beginning  to  think  the  hungry  Coyote  a  rather 
clever  dog  after  all. 

''Tlie  best  known  of  these  ground  burrowers  of  the 
plains,  that  reach  east  of  the  Rockies  from  the  Sas- 
katchewan country  down  to  Texas,  is  the  pretty  Striped 
Spermophile.  He  is  an  inch  or  so  longer  than  a  Chip- 
munk, lightl}'^  built  and  slender;  his  coat  is  striped  with 
light  brown  bands,  alternating  with  dark,  light  spotted 
bands,  the  whole  coat  being  as  exquisite  and  even  as 
a  woven  fabric  ;  yet  he  is  a  perfect  nuisance,  disliking 
woodlands,  but  ai)pearing  as  soon  as  the  trees  are  cleared, 
and  never  venturing  far  up  mountain  sides. 

"  His  big  brother,  the  gray  mottled  Rock  or  Line- 
tailed  Spermophile,  begins  his  range  where  the  striped 
one  halts,  burrows  among  the  loose  rocks  on  the  sides 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  themselves,  and  is  the  com- 
monest Mammal  of  the  pifton  belts.  Here,  being  out 
of  the  wheat  centre,  he  turns  his  attention  to  robbing 
liens'  nests,  and  has  a  bad  reputation." 

"  What  is  a  piflon  belt  ?  "  asked  Rap. 

"Pinons  are  the  western  nut-bearing  pines,  and  of 
course  the  Ground  Squirrels  like  to  live  near  them." 

"Why  couldn't  they  train  terriers  to  catch  these 
Sperniophiles?  "  asked  Olive. 

"  They  have  a  trick  that  dogs  do  not  like,"  said  the 

Doctor.     "  Tlic}'  let  a  dog  or  other  animal  come  (piito 

[close,  and  tlien  turn   round  and  kick  up  the  dust  so 

viil»idly  that  tlie  poor  boast  is  both  blinded  and  choked. 

So  much  for  tlie  Mischief  Makers!" 


364 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"Oh,  look  at  Mr.  Wolf  and  listen  to  Rod's  pupp,-," 
whispered  Nat;  "they've  had  too  much  sausage  party  I 
The  puppy  is  crying  as  if  he  was  afraid,  and  Wolfs  liair 
is  all  ridged  up  and  he's  growling!  " 

"I  think  he  must  be  dreaming  that  the  butclun's 
Newfoundland  dog  is  walking  on  his  side  of  the  road, 
and  lie  never  allows  that,  you  know !  "  said  Olive. 


Rock  Si'kkmophile. 


XXVI 


THE  BEAVER'S   STORY 
(as  told  by  himself) 

A^^ — >^wE AVERS  are  strangely  wise  animals," 
X  \\    said  Dr.  Roy,  the  eveninnr  tliat  Nat 

I  J  /     ^^^^^   '^   Beaver   picture,  ''and   the 

'  '^    best  way  to  give  you  a  glimpse  of 

their  habits  and  homes  will  be  to  road 
you  a  Beaver's  story  of  himself." 
So  saying  the  Doctor  took  some 
sheets  of   paper  from   the   table 
and  asked  Nat  to  bring  a  lamp, 
for  they  usually  listened  to  the 
stories  by  the  fire-light  alone. 

"  Wlio  wrote  this  story  ?  "  asked  Dodo,  "  for  of  course 
a  Heaver  can't  write,  at  least,  I  mean,  in  our  lan- 
guage," for  she  liad  come  to  believe  that  animals  can 
(la  almost  everything.  "  Is  it  your  writing.  Uncle  Roy, 
or  is  it  daddy's  ?  " 
"  Come  and  see  for  yourself." 

"  It  is  nobody's  writing ;  it  is  printed  with  a  type- 
writing machine,"  said  Olive.  "  I  suppose  Olaf  would 
say  that  the  Dream  Fox  did  it." 

"  No  questions  answered,"  laughed  the  Doctor.  "  No 
matter  how  the  story  found  its  way  into  words,  or  if  it 
sounds  like  a  fairy  tale,  I  can  promise  that  every  word 

866 


366 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


of  it  is  true.     If  you  doubt  it,  you  may  ask  the  v.  ry 
first  Wise  Man  you  meet. 


(A  Rkaver  lkaves  his  Wouk  to  chat  a  Few  !>roMEXTs  ix 

THE  Moonlight) 

"'I  am  a  fourfoot  of  a  very  ancient  family  and  one 
of  the  oldest  of  Mammals.  Land  and  water  both 
desired  to  own  me,  so  Nature  planned  me  to  be  shared 
by  both,  giving  me  the  fore  paws  of  a  land  animal  and 
the  strong  webbed  liind  feet  of  a  swimmer. 

" '  As  I  sit  on  this  low  bank  and  look  at  my  reflection 
in  the  pond,  it  seems  to  me  that,  though  I  am  a  decidedly 
remarkable  and  intelligent  beast,  I  am  very  plain,  or, 
an  ill-natured  person  miglit  say,  ugly  in  a[)pearance. 
My  body  is  about  three  feet  long  from  my  nose  to  the 
beginning  of  my  tail.  I  slope  fore  and  aft,  humping 
up  in  the  middle  like  a  haystack.  My  long  claws  are 
of  the  pattern  given  to  biirrowers,  from  the  Badger  to 
the  Gopher,  and  my  four  gnawing  teeth,  of  a  strange 
design,  are  curved  and  powerful,  the  lower  two  being 
five  and  tlie  upper  pair  four  inches  long.  Yet  they  are 
set  so  deeply  in  the  jaw  that  little  more  than  an  inch 
of  them  is  seen,  like  tools  that  are  braced  deeply  in 
their  liandles  to  giv^e  extra  strength.  The  outside  of 
these  teeth  is  of  a  stronger  texture  than  the  inside, 
which  causes  them  to  wear  down  toward  the  back, 
giving  them  the  cutting  edge  of  a  keen  cliisel. 

'"Look  at  my  tail  I  It  is  nine  inches  long,  and  in 
the  middle  half  as  wide  as  its  length ;  it  is  a  fiat,  scaly 
paddle,  in  fact.  You  shall  see  how  it  serves  me  as  a 
rudder,  a  danger  signal,  and  a  mason's  trowel. 

"  '  Tlie  color  of  my  fur  coat  is  usually  reddish  brown, 


NS 

lay  ask  the  very 

Few  pigments  ix 

t  family  and  one 
and  water  both 
I  me  to  be  shaved 
hind  animal  and 
mer. 

ic  at  my  reflection 

[\  I  am  a  decidedly 

m  very  plain,  or, 

y  in  a[)pearance. 

1  my  nose  to  the 

ind  aft,  humping 

[y  long  claws  are 

)m  the  Badger  to 

seth,  of  a  strange 

lower  two  being 

<T.     Yet  they  are 

lore  than  an  inch 

braced  deeply  in 

The  outside  of 

than  the  inside, 

oward   the   back, 

1  chisel. 

;hes  long,  and  in 
;  it  is  a  flat,  scaly 
t  serves  me  as  a 
trowel, 
ly  reddish  brown. 


-AT., 


'}^i-MM:L 


•^/^f 


N 


i 


A^   ,,/ 


f      i 


liKAVEKS  AT   WoRK. 


■ 

m 

1' 

1 

J*. 

1' 

.^9nBB 

/ 

■'■y 

,  1 

:^i  V 


THE  beaver's  story 


367 


tinged  variously  with  yellow  and  sometimes  veiled  with 
l)lack.  My  under-fur  is  all  plain  brown,  about  half  an 
inch  long  and  soft  as  a  Seal's.  It  was  this  fur  that  led 
my  race  into  trouble,  and  caused  us  to  be  so  popular 
with  trappers  that  we  were  killed  out  from  about  the 
rivers  and  ponds  where  House  Children  might  have 
seen  our  lodges  and  runways  as  freely  as  they  do  those 
of  the  Muskrat.  Our  soft,  even  fur  made  fine  Beaver 
hats;  our  pelts  were  strong  and  elastic  —  they  made 
good  gloves;  our  tails  were  layered  with  fat  —  they 
made  good  eating  for  the  Indians.  Once  -..'e  were  so 
important  that  the  great  Fur  Company  of  Hudson's 
liay  stamped  our  name  upon  a  coin  for  a  sign  of  valuu, 
''1  Made  Beaver." 

"'So  we  were  trapped  in  and  out  of  season,  cruelly 
and  wastefully,  young  and  old  together,  until  we  are  ^^11 1 
a  small  tribe,  and  in  all  this  wide  country  we  iu'iabi^ 
but  a  few  solitary  spots,  and  so  you  do  not  know  us, 

"'I  am  a  wonder  to  the  Wise  Men,  and  there  are 
many  things  about  me  that  they  cannot  understand. 
According  to  their  ways  of  measuring  and  judgiiijj,  I 
am  low  among  the  Mammals.  Tliey  find  that  I  have  a 
small  heart  and  lungs,  that  I  breathe  slowly,  have  no 
skill  as  a  hunter,  and  prefer  to  live  on  harsh  vegetable 
food,  such  as  the  bark  of  soft-wooded  trees.  They  look 
at  my  teeth  and  put  me  in  the  tribe  of  o  i.,\vers,  —  the 
family  of  Rats,  Mice,  and  other  nuisance  animals.  But 
when  they  come  to  watch  me  at  my  work,  and  see  that  I 
am  a  wood-chopper,  architect,  engine-,  r,  and  mason,  they 
are  indeed  puzzled,  for  they  say :  ''A  Beaver  has  a  small, 
smooth  brain ;  people  who  think  have  wrinkled  brains. 
How  comes  this,  for  a  Beaver  thinks  and  plans  ?  "     Then 


368 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


H 


■  i 


the  Wise  Men  confess  that  I  am  the  most  interestiii'- 
animal  on  the  whole  Mammal  tree  (except  man  himself), 
and  that  they  really  know  very  little  about  me,  Tlio 
Indian,  who  knows  all  our  ways,  holds  us  more  higlih , 
weaving  many  stories  about  us,  welcoming  us  as  pets  in 
the  lodges,  and  loving  us  as  House  People  love  their 
dogs. 

" '  Now  you  know  liow  I  look.  I  will  tell  you  how 
and  where  I  live,  beginning  with  the  springtime,  in 
May,  when  every  industrious  pair  of  Beavers  who  own 
a  home  burrow  and  a  woodpile,  have,  maybe  two,  or 
maybe  half  a  dozen  little  Beavers  in  their  liouse.  As 
you  know,  we  live  about  ponds  and  watercourses,  aiul 
our  summer  liomes  are  made  in  this  fashion  :  Finding*'  a 
good  bank  of  clay  or  loam,  by  Ji  favorite  stream,  we  look 
for  a  place  where  the  soil  is  braced  by  tree  roots.  TIkmi 
we  dive  and  begin  a  burrow  under  the  water,  going  up 
into  the  bank,  cutting  through  roots,  and  rolling  out 
stones,  until  we  have  made  two  chambers,  —  an  outer  one 
for  food,  and  an  inner  one  above  the  water  level  for  a 
living  room,  with  a  [)lace  for  air  to  come  in  at  the  toji 
among  the  tree  roots.  You  may  wonder  why  our  door- 
way is  always  under  water.  It  is  so  that  we  may  swim 
out  and  not  rise  to  the  surface  near  our  home,  sliowintjf 
enemies  wliere  we  live.  Does  not  tlie  Ovenbird  slip 
from  lier  nest,  and,  running  througli  tlio  underbrush, 
make  her  flight  at  a  distance,  ft)r  the  same  reason  ? 

"'  A  few  weeks  after  our  young  are  born  they  begin 
to  gnaw  soft  bark,  and  then  they  soon  join  us  in  our 
wood-cutting  excursions.  Tlie  trees  we  love  best  for 
food  are  those  with  juicy  l>ark,  like  tlie  yellow  bircli, 
cotton-wood,  poplar,  and  willow.     If  we  are  very  hungiy, 


THE  beaver's  story 


369 


we  can  eat  walnut,  ash,  and  the  harder  maples ;  but  we 
do  not  relish  them,  and  we  sometimes  use  lily  roots  and 
grass  for  salad.  It  would  be  wasteful  merely  to  gnaw 
tiie  bark  around  the  trunks  of  trees,  besides  this  is  not 
as  tender  as  the  bark  covering  the  branches ;  so,  as  we 
may  not  climb,  nothing  is  left  us  but  to  fell  the  trees. 
Then  we  select  a  tree  a  foot  or  more  in  thickness,  and 
begin  our  cutting  from  each  side,  upward  and  down- 
ward, our  teeth  making  short,  chisel-like  grooves,  hew- 
ing out  wide  chips.  When  the  tree  falls  we  run,  and, 
diving,  swim  to  our  burrows  lest  some  enemy  should 
liear  the  noise  and  catch  us  at  our  work. 

" '  When  all  is  quiet,  we  come  out  again,  and  like 
good  craftsmen  begin  to  chop  our  wood  in  lengths  to 
carry  home.  We  cut  our  fagots,  measuring  by  their 
weight  instead  of  length,  so  that  a  thick  limb  will  be 
chopped  in  strips  a  foot  in  length,  a  thinner  one  two 
feet  long,  and  so  on,  for  we  know  how  mucli  a  Beaver 
may  carry  easily.  The  wood  is  then  taken  to  the  store- 
house of  the  Ijurrow.  The  thick  pieces  we  roll  along 
down  the  bank  perhaps,  liolding  them  between  paws 
and  chin  in  swimming,  whicli  we  do  easily,  using  our 
tails  as  rudders  to  guide  us  with  our  load.  The  smaller 
twigs  we  hold  in  our  moutlis,  the  ends  trailing  over  our 
shoulders  to  the  ground.  If  any  logs  are  liard  to  move, 
wo  often  use  our  tails  as  levers  to  pry  them  along,  and 
our  tails  also  help  us  to  lift  up  in  our  arms  the  great 
stones,  which  wo  often  have  to  move  in  building. 

'' '  When  the  right  trees  are  near  our  water  liomes, 

all  goes  well,  but  sometimes  tlio  near  woods  are  all 

I'aton   or   otherwise   destroyed.     The  water   from   the 

[)onds  often  runs  back  and  Hoods  tho  lowlands  wlieru 

2  11        , 


ill 


370 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


we  have  cut  down  all  the  trees,  making  it  so  wet  that 
no  more  trees  will  grow ;  and  rich,  tall  grass  springs  up, 
covering  the  decayed  stumps.  House  People  call  these 
places  Beaver  Meadows.  We  do  not  like  the  wood  of 
evergreens,  and  so  often  we  have  to  search  far  away 
from  water  for  our  food,  and  after  the  trees  are  cut, 
they  must  be  carried  a  weary  distance  home.  We  have 
two  ways  of  doing  this:  one  is  to  make  a  straight  patli- 
way  by  felling  everything  that  would  interfere  with  us; 
the  other  is  to  dig  a  canal  between  ponds  or  streams 
and,  letting  in  water,  float  our  wood  home,  as  House 
People  float  their  logs  from  lumber  camps  to  sawmills. 

" '  Having  made  our  canal,  three  feet  wide  and  as 
many  deep,  we  must  arrange  to  keep  the  water  dee[) 
enough  for  our  work.  Deep  water  is  a  "  must  be  "  in 
the  Heaver  world,  whether  in  canals  or  in  the  ponds 
and  rivers.  The  water  must  be  high  enough  to  cover 
the  doorway  of  the  burrows. 

"'Next  comes  our  work  as  engineers,  for  we  have  t<» 
build  dams  to  k(>ep  the  water  back  and  make  it  stand 
at  tlie  exact  depth  we  wish. 

'"House  People  have  all  seen  the  dams  that  keep 
tlie  water  in  their  mill  ponds;  but  we  build  longer, 
better  ones  than  theirs,  sometimes  perhai)s  they  may  l>i' 
only  a  few  feet  in  length,  but  at  others  many  hundred. 
Ol'ten  we  begin  by  interlacing  growing  bushes  willi 
sticks,  lilling  the  gaps  with  stones  and  mud  on  the  water 
side,  then  niding  sti(0<s  from  tin^e  to  time  below,  until 
we  have  made  our  hairier  sirong  enough.  At  other 
times  we  build  over  fallen  trees,  and  raise  a  dam  from 
them  of  almost  soli<l  mud,  strengtluMied  with  treebouglis. 
We  are  never  wasteful,  ami  sehlom  use  fresh  wood  for 


THE  beaver's  story 


371 


this  work,  but  save  the  sticks  from  which  the  bark  has 
all  been  gnawed  ior  all  our  building.  Another  thing 
we  do,  —  we  curve  our  dams  up  stream.  Do  you  know 
why?  If  you  were  trying  to  push  something,  or  some 
one  back,  would  you  stand  straight  u[),  or  would  you 
bend  forward  to  meet  the  strain,  and  thus  gain  added 
strength  ?  You  would  bend,  of  course,  and  so  we  bend 
our  dams  to  push  the  waters  back.  We  may  be  stupid 
and  clumsy  and  ranked  with  Rabbits  and  Hats;  our  eyes 
and  brains  may  be  small,  but  you  nmst  see  by  this  that 
we  are  rather  clever  at  thinking. 

" '  All  summer  we  feed  and  work  and  play,  making  and 
repairing  dams  and  felling  our  wood  by  night,  but  some- 
times stopping  to  be  idle,  and  rolling  and  basking  in  the 
sunlight.  We  are  ever  on  the  watch,  however,  even  in 
play  time,  our  keen  ears  catching  the  faintest  sound  of 
warning,  and  our  alarm  signal  is  far  reaching.  Our 
sentry  has  but  to  dive,  bringing  his  flat  tail  with  a 
(piick,  sharp  blow  upon  the  water,  and  the  noise  is 
I'clioed  far  and  wide.  S[)at!  spat!  spat  I  go  the  tails 
of  all  the  Heavers  in  the  region  as  they  disappear. 
I'iVen  when  we  lie  sunning  ourselves,  we  are  on  the 
idcrt,  for  it  is  Heaver  law  tliat  when  at  rest  every  i)air 
must  lie  fat'ing  each  other  so  that,  one  looking  each 
way,  notliing  may  steal  up  unawares,  and  if  we  are 
suspicious  even,  we  rise  up  on  our  haunches  and  listen 
lo  catch  every  breath. 

'''In  September  tlu^  serious  task  of  cutting  winter 
wood  l)egins.  We  do  not  sle(?p  tlie  winter  sleep,  so 
we  need  food  in  plenty  and  better  slielter  tlian  our 
hank  burrows,  for  we  live  in  places  where  ice  and  snow 
liavo  a  long  season.     Once  in  the  far  back,  perhaps,  the 


372 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


climate  was  not  so  cold,  but  the  Wise  Men  say  that  we 
American  Beavers  have  been  building  dams  and  winter 
lodges  for  thousands  of  years,  and  they  can  prove  their 
words  by  digging  and  showing  you  our  ancient  earth- 
works. How  we  came  to  need  our  island  lodges  is  a 
legend  in  our  family,  but  one  that  Heart  of  Nature  will 
not  yet  let  us  tell,  lest  no  one  should  believe  it. 

" '  Eacii  Beaver  family  has  its  own  lodge,  for  though 
we  are  sociable  we  do  not  approve  of  hotel  life,  and  at 
most,  several  families  may  have  lodges  in  the  same 
pond.  We  Beavers  know  the  places  where  warm 
springs,  deep  from  the  earth,  feed  the  ponds,  and  near 
these  spots  we  make  our  buildings.  Starting  from  some 
sunken  island,  we  begin  our  heap  of  sticks,  building  a 
thick  mud  and  wicker  wall  and  arching  poles  to  support 
the  roof  of  a  living  room,  which  is  some  half  dozen  feet 
aero.-,  and  well  above  the  water  line.  This  lodge  has 
two  entrances  below  water,  —  one  for  the  family  and 
one  for  food  wood. 

" '  Before  ice  and  snow  stop  our  tree-cutting  excur- 
sions, every  Beaver  household  moves  into  its  lodge  anil 
has  a  sunken  woodpile  close  at  hand,  from  which  the 
daily  provisions  can  be  taken  by  swimming  under  the 
ice.  We  Beavers  can  swim  a  half  mile  under  water 
witliout  rising  through  the  breathing  holes.  You  may 
wonder  why,  in  the  cold  countries  where  we  live,  tin- 
ponds  and  livers  do  not  freeze  to  the  bottom,  or  sudden 
thaws  drown  us  out.  In  the  iirst  place,  we  make  our 
dams  the  right  heigiit  to  give  us  the  exact  depth  oi 
water  we  need,  and  nature  guides  us  where  to  build  near 
the  warm  spring  holes  that  keep  the  ice  thin,  and  tiie 
heavy  snows  also  helping  us  by  shutting  out  the  cold. 


THE  BEAVER'S   STORY 


373 


1  hen,  if  we  see  a  freshet  coining,  we  make  a  gap  in  the 
clam  to  let  the  water  off,  or  if  it  rises  too  quickly,  as 
sometimes  in  early  spring,  we  swim  for  refuge  to  our 
sinnmer  bank  burrows.  Sometimes  our  woodpile  grows 
water-soaked  and  sour,  and  we  are  glad  when  a  thaw 
Idts  us  cut  down  a  fresh  supply  ;  but  usually  our  win- 
tor  life  is  happy  and  comfortable,  for  here  in  this  spot 
no  trappers  may  come  to  harry  us  from  our  liomes. 

" '  Our  children  stay  with  us  until  they  are  two  years 
old,  so  each  lodge  harbors,  besides  the  parents,  the  eight 
or  ten  children  of  two  seasons.  We  are  affectionate 
lunong  ourselves,  but  are  bound  to  keep  Beaver  law, 
which  says  that  the  young  of  every  lodge,  when  fully 
grown,  shall  go  out,  find  mates,  and  build  lodges  for 
tliemselves.  Also,  that  they  shall  always  go  further 
down  stream  tlmn  their  old  homes.  Down  stream 
means  the  building  of  new  dams  and  extra  labor,  which 
is  most  suitable  for  those  with  strong  young  teeth. 
Tlie  older  Heavers,  when  they  need  new  lodges,  may 
go  up  stream  to  easy  quarters ;  for  as  a  Beaver  grows 
old,  and  toward  the  end  of  his  fifteen  years  of  life,  his 
teeth  are  dulled,  and  he  cannot  cut  wood  so  easily  for 
liouse  and  dam  building.  Beaver  law  despises  laziness 
mid  says  no  Beaver  sliall  steal  from  another  Beaver's 
woodpile,  and  I  he  penalty  for  such  a  theft  is  death ! 
Tlie  Indians  know  tliese  laws  and  how  well  wo  keep 
tliuni.  Often  ir.  a  long  cold  winter,  when  all  our  bark 
is  eaten,  we  gnaw  up  the  hard  wood  itself  for  food,  or 
[liiich  and  starve  rather  than  break  the  law. 

" "  Each  pair  of  Beavei's  are  rulers  in  their  lodge, 
building  and  rei)airing  their  own  dams  unaided  except 
hy  members  of  their  families;  for  sociable  as  we  are,  we 


374 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


neither  live  nor  work  in  colonies.  If  our  young  do  net 
choose  mates  the  first  season  that  they  leave  us,  thes' 
may  come  home  that  winter,  but  not  again.  Afterwards 
they  must  join  the  wanderers  and  those  Beavers  vvhn, 
having  lost  their  mates,  refuse  to  take  another.  Thus  or.i' 
lives  go  on,  —  hewing,  storing,  planning,  building,  and 
repairing,  unless  trappers  break  up  our  peaceful  homes. 

"  '  I  who  tell  this  story  live  on  Lost  Creek,  which  runs 
through  protected  land,  where  no  trap  may  take  me,  and 
I  am  fat,  liappy,  and  content.  I  have  a  mate  who  is  a 
clever  tree  chopper,  and  we  are  now  building,  raising 
our  dam  a  foot  or  so,  and  mending  places  where  our  mis- 
chievous cousins  the  Muskrats  have  poked  holes ;  some- 
times they  even  try  to  share  our  lodges  witli  us,  like  the 
impudent  rats  they  are.  We  must  deepen  the  waior 
around  a  new  lodge  that  we  shall  finish  to-morrow ;  its 
roof  poles  are  of  poplars  from  the  nearby  bank,  the  sides 
are  braced  by  willow  and  poplar  basketwork,  and  I  have 
beaien  the  mud  covering  hard  and  smooth  with  my  flat 
tail.  Our  lodge  has  a  broad  entrance  for  wood  also,  where 
the  cuttings  will  not  stick  wlien  carried  in,  and  a  large 
dry  room  for  my  family  of  nine  young  and  half-grown 
Heavers  who  helped  me  with  the  work,  thus  learning 
liow  to  hew  and  build  tlie  lodges  some  of  them  will  have 
to  make  for  themselves  next  season. 

" '  Yet  in  spite  of  all  this  work  of  mine,  the  Wise  Men 
say,  and  tliink  tlicy  [)rove  it  by  my  body,  that  I  am  bnt 
a  slow,  lowly  Mammal,  no  huntsman,  and  a  cousin  of 
Rabbits  and  liats,  with  a  small  smootli  brain  tlnit  has  no 
l)nsiness  to  tliink  and  [)lan.  I  prove  by  my  own  works 
that  I  have  both  thonglit  and  judgment,  and  I  wish  tliiit 
you  could  visit  me  and  see  niy  work  yourself. 


^• 


THE  beaver's   story 


375 


young  do  not 
3ave  us,  they 
Afterwards 
Beavers  who, 
ler.    Thusoviv 
building,  and 
iceful  homes. 
;k,  which  runs 
y  take  me,  and 
mate  who  is  a 
ihling,  raising 
where  our  mis- 
d  holes ;  some- 
itli  us,  like  the 
pen  the  waier 
to-morrow;  its 
bank,  the  sides 
rk,  and  I  have 
|th  with  my  flat 
ood  also,  where 
in,  and  a  large 
x\u\  half-grown 
,  thus  learning 
them  will  have 


" '  Hist  I  the  alarm  beat  comes  down  river  I  Beaver 
law  says  dive  and  strike  water  with  your  tail  in  going ; 
so  travels  the  signal  through  the  moonlight.  I  hear  a 
crashing  in  the  brushwood  —  now  my  turn  cojues  !  A 
good  evening  to  you  I '     (The  Beaver  dives.) 

"  Splash  !  not  a  Beaver  within  sight.  The  September 
moon  shows  heaps  of  sticks  and  black  water,  while  a 
restless  Moose,  seeking  its  mate,  wades  along  the  pond 
edge  drinking  and  snatching  mouthfuls  of  water-lily 
stems  that  will  be  soon  cut  down  by  the  frost,  then 
bellows  a  joyful  answer  to  a  faint  call  from  far  up  the 


river. 


I,  the  Wise  Men 
r,  that  1  am  but 
Ind  a  cousin  of 
lain  that  has  no 

my  own  works 
land  1  wish  that 

rself. 


XXVII 

"B'ARS   AND  POSSUMS" 

J^:ilHAPS   INIammy  Bun   will   tell  us  a 
stoiy    about    '  Possums    and   Bears,' " 
said   Mr.  Blake,  as  they  gathered  by 
the  campfire   before  supper  one  Satur- 
day evening  in  February,  and  Kap,  on 
looking  through  the  portfolio,  had  chosen  these 
two  animals  of  widely  different  sizes  and  fami- 
lies. 

"  Perhaps  she  will,"  echoed  Dodo,  clapping  her 
;  "for  she's  promised  to  cook  supper  for  us  to- 
—  'ole-time  supper,'  she  calls  it,  with  hoe-cakes, 
eggs,  frizzly  bacon  and  rice  done  up  somehow  witli 
pickle  sauce.  We  had  it  once  before,  and  it  was 
dreffly  good ! " 

"It  says  Opossum  on  the  picture,"  said  Nat,  "but 
everybody  calls  them  Possums,  from  Mammy  even  to 
Uncle  Roy.  Mammy  knows  lots  .about  them,  and  she 
says  tliey  are  nicer  to  eat  than  spring  chicken  or  little 
roast  pig.'* 

"  But  how  can  she  tell  us  about  Bears  ?  "  said  Dodo. 

"They  are  great  savage  beasts  of  cold  countries  and  big 

mountains.     Mammy  never  lived  in  any  such  places  I  " 

"  You  are  thinking  of  the  Grizzly  l^ear  and  liis  grout 

wliite  brother  who  tramps  along  the  shores  of  Arctic 

370 


hands 
night, 


''B'ARS  AND  POSSUMS 


377 


vill  tell  us  a 
and  Bears,"" 
'  gathered  by 
»er  one  Satui- 
,  and  Rap,  on 
1  chosen  these 
;izes  and  fanii- 

o,  dapping  her 

)per  for  us  to- 

,vith  hoe-cakes, 

omehow  with 

and    it   was 


■5 


,aid  Nat,  "but 

amniy  even  to 

them,  and  she 

jhicken  or  little 


s  ?  "  said  Dodo. 
)untries  and  big 
such  places ! " 
ir  and  his  great 
lores  of  Arctic 


seas,  but  the  beast  of  our  picture  is  the  common  Ameri- 
can Bear,  called  Brown  and  sometimes  Black  Bear,  who 
is  still  found  in  almost  every  state  in  the  Union  and  in 
a  few  places  in  Canada  also,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
lie  has  been  diligently  hunted  from  the  moment  House 
People  set  foot  on  these  shores.' ' 

"Are  there  any  very  near  here  now?"  asked  Dodo, 
aiixiouslv. 

"  Not  in  this  state,  but  in  others  near  by ;  iu  Massa- 
chusetts, Maine,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  and  all  down  through  the  mountains  of 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana  where 
Manuny  was  born,  though  she  moved  up  to  Kentucky 
later  on." 

"  Are  they  as  strong  and  savage  as  Grizzlies?"  asked 
Kap. 

"  They  are  as  strong  for  their  size,  but  not  as  savage 
and  will  never  attack  man  unless  cornered,  or  in  defence 
ot  their  young." 

"  What  made  you  choose  a  little  and  a  big  animal  for 
a  story.  Rap?  "  asked  Olive,  "  and  two  that  aren't  alike 
iu  any  way  ?  " 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  about  that,"  said  Mr.  Blake ;  "  for 
though  they  live  far  apart  on  the  Mammal  tree,  there 
are  four  ways  in  which  they  do  resemble  each  other.  1 
will  give  you  a  riddle,  and  you  must  answer  it  at  the  end 
of  the  evening.     Why  is  a  Possum  like  a  Bear? 

"  Meanwhile,  Dodo,  run  and  ask  Mammy  if  she  will 
tell  us  a  story,  and  while  she  is  cooking  supper  I  will 
tell  you  a  few  things  .about  the  Black  Bear,  as  we  see 
him  in  the  North,  that  Mammy  may  not  know." 

"Yes,  she  will  come  I "  said  Dodo,  flying  back;  "she 


$i 


ii 


n 


'■}■: '. : 


378 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


says  tliiiikiiig  of  making  lioe-cakes  by  a  wood  lire  takes 
her  straight  back  to  Possum  days.  Only  she's  going  ta 
bring  her  griddle  to  bake  the  cakes  on;  for  she  says  onlv 
po./r  trash  that  had  no  griddles  baked  their  cakes  (jii 
hoes  down  Soutli,  and  she  wants  plenty  of  hot  ashes 
raked  out  in  front." 

"•  jNIammy  shall  be  obeyed,"  said  Mr.  Blake,  ariangin^- 
the  iire. 

*' Yes,"  said  liis  wife,  smiling,  "find  T  think  Ave  had 
better  go  in  a  far  corner  and  keep  out  of  Mammy's  wav 
until  suppei'  is  leady.  She  is  very  good-natured,  but 
set    in    the   opinion   that    '  too    many    cooks    spoil    the 

broth : '" 

''Good  advice,  as  usual.  Now  look  at  this  picture  of 
the  HIack  Bear.  He  stands  a  trifle  under  three  feet  at 
tlu!  shoulder,  weighs  commonly  anywhere  from  four  to 
six  hundred  pounds,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  winter 
season  at  least,  wears  a  smooth,  glossy  black  outside  coat 
that  makes  his  pelt  valuable  for  many  purposes,  from  rugs 
to  fur  trinuuing.  I  le  has  long  claws,  and  four  sharp  dog- 
teeth or  meat-eaters.  His  hind  leos  seem  lono-er  than 
the  fore  lei»'s  when  he  ambles  alonn",  and  he  walks  on  the 
soles  of  his  feet  as  man  does,  which  make  him  what  the 
Wise  Men  call  a  pl(intt'(/r((<]c  Manunal. 

"In  the  more  northerly  places  this  Bear  lives  in  dense 
evergi'een  fcrrests,  and  dens  up  from  four  to  six  montiis 
in  the  cold  season,  but  in  the  South  his  haunts  are 
among  the  cane-brakes  and  tangles  of  live  oaks  and 
palmettos,  and  he  does  not  hi-fn>r-nafe.  Either  in  the 
North  or  South,  however,  he  is  a  wary  beast  to  hunt, 
liaving  keen  ears  and  many  cunning  ways.  He  is  hard 
to  reach  unless  trailed  by  dogs,  which  method  of  taking 


,'oocl  lire  takes 
she's  going  tn 
r  slie  says  only 
[heir  cakes  on 
'  of  hot  ashes 

ake,  arranging 

think  we  luid 
Mammy's  way 
(l-natiired,  hut 
)oks    spoil    the 

this  picture  of 
er  three  feet  at 
re  from  four  to 
t  of  the  winter 
ck  outside  coat 
)oses,  from  rugs 
four  sharp  dog- 
;m  longer  than 
le  walks  on  the 
e  him  what  the 

ir  lives  in  dense 

to  six  months 
his    haunts  are 

live  oaks  and 
Either  m  the 

heast  to  hunt. 

s.  He  is  hard 
ethod  of  taking 


JVARS  AND  POSSUMS' 


379 


him  is  about  as  barbarous  a  sport  as  exists  out  of  tlie 
country  of  Bull  lighting.  Even  if  the  liear  has  done 
evil  things  and  you  do  not  care  for  him,  it  is  cruel  to 
urge  spirited  dogs  within  reach  of  his  teeth  and  claws, 
for  Bruin  is  courageous  when  brought  to  bay  and  sells 
his  life  dearly. 

"  The  Black  Bear  is  ranked  with  llesh-eaters,  hut  he 
should  have  an  order  all  to  himself,  to  he  called,  'The 
Order  of  ( Gluttony,'  for  he  is  ready  to  eat  anything  at 
any  time,  —  lish,  tlesh,  game,  poultry,  turtles'  eggs,  frogs, 
fruits,  and  berries,  all  mixed  together  with  as  nuu'h  honey 
in  the  comb  and  out  of  it  as  he  can  scoop  from  hollow 
trees,  in  spite  of  the  pointed  remonstrance  of  hordes  of 
angry  bees.  Honey  failing,  he  will  sit  in  a  cherry  tree 
and  gobble  until  you  would  expect  to  hear  the  cherry 
stones  rattling  about  inside  him. 


Black  Bear. 


380 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


"  In  winter,  when  Bears  den  up,  they  of  ti ..  unknow- 
ingly set  traps  to  catch  themselves.  Sometimes  a  Euiir 
prepares  a  cave  home  with  a  good  bed,  but  more  often 
merelj'^  hollows  out  a  place  under  a  bank  or  tree  root  to 
curl  up  in.  Snow  comes,  covering  everything  many  feet 
deep.  Thawing  and  freezing  makes  a  hard  outside  crust, 
and  the  Bear's  warm  breath  melts  the  snow  inside  until 
it  is  turned  into  a  thick  ice  cage  that  shuts  him  in. 
Sometimes  huntei's  see  the  steam  rising  from  these  caves 
or  break  through  them  quite  by  accident,  and  Bruin 
is  caught." 

"  Do  they  live  in  family  holes,  like  Beavers  ?  "  asked 
Rap. 

"No,  each  Bear  has  its  own  den.  The  cubs  are  born 
in  these  dens  late  in  winter,  and  of  all  the  feeble,  miser- 
able baby  animals.  Bear  cubs  are  the  most  forlorn.  They 
are  no  larger  than  kittens,  furless  and  blind,  and  they 
do  not  open  their  eyes  for  a  month  or  more,  while  their 
mother  is  obliged  to  play  that  she  is  a  sitting  hen  and 
keep  them  warm  under  her  fur  until  they  are  a  couple 
of  months  old.  When  five  or  six  months  old,  however, 
they  become  very  clever,  doing  a  hundred  funny  tricks. 
Only  two  or  three  cubs  are  found  in  a  den,  and  they  are 
usually  two  years  old  before  any  little  brothers  come  to 
disj)ute  their  rights.  Cowardly  as  these  animals  are 
generally,  it  is  a  very  dangerous  thing,  when  walking  on 
snow-shoes,  to  break  through  into  a  she-Bear's  den.  If 
possible,  she  won't  let  you  go  to  tell  the  tale  of  where 
you  found  her." 

"  Are  Bears  good  to  eat  ?  "  asked  Rap.       '' 

"It  depends  upon  circumstances;  if  they  are  young, 
fat,  and  have  lived  upon  clean  food,  nuts  and  berries  — 


''B'Aiis  Ayn  possums" 


381 


yes.  If  they  are  old,  stagy  prowlers,  who  have  been 
alongshore  fishing  for  a  living,  or  eating  carrion— they 
make  decidedly  poor  food." 

"  De  bac'n  am  done  to  der  turn,  and  de  caikes  is  all 
ready,"  said  iNIammy,  and  they  hastened  to  tiie  table. 
*  *  *  *  ^ 

"  IVars  and  Possums,"  chuckled  Mammy,  looking  into 
tlie  fire  as  they  gave  her  the  seat  of  honor,  all  having 
helped  wash  the  dishes  so  that  no  time  might  be  lost. 

"  B'ars  and  Possums,  hoe-caikes  and  bac'n,  dem  was 
fine  times  —  dat  is,  when  they  ivas  fine  !  Seems  like  I 
can  see  der  old  cabin  right  on  de  edge  'tween  the  fields 
and  de  sweet-gum  and  gincos  an'  'simmon  trees ! " 

"Was  that  where  the  Possums  lived?"  asked  Mrs. 
Blake,  gently,  because  when  Mammy  went  back  to  the 
good  old  times,  they  were  so  many  miles  off  that  it  was 
sometimes  difficult  to  get  her  home  again. 

"Possums?  Possums  lib  eberywhar!  Lib  all  ober 
Souf  when  I  was  a  gal.  Dem  times  gone,  like  'nuf 
Possums  gone  too !  Possum  lib  in  tree  holes,  same  as 
Coon  does ;  eat  ebery  kind  ob  tings,  same  as  Coon  does. 
Possum  goes  a  w^alkin'  out  at  niglit,  same  as  Coon  does; 
Possum  make  good  eatin',  same  as  Coon  does.  My  Ian '  I 
how  Sambo  did  like  Coon  and  l*ossum  I  Massa  Brans- 
comb  he  war  very  'ticular  no  folks  should  hunt  Possum 
and  Coon  in  spring  and  summer  time.  An'  when  he 
dasn't  go  huntin'  of  'em.  Sambo  he  jest  sing  about  'em, 
like  he'd  fly  away —  'Possum  up  de  gum  tree'  war  his 
fav'rite  song. 

"  Den  when  he  war  a  cortin'  me,  time  he  stole  de 
Mockers  ter  git  de  banjo,  he  corted  me  wif  Coons  and 
Possums   too.      My !    didn't  dis  chile   hab  good  eatin' 


^  1 

ii 


''% 


;r 


382 


FOUR-FOOTED  A MEIilCANS 


long  dose  times ! "  and  Maainiy  broke  into  a  mellow 
laugh. 

''Then  Mr.  Branscomb  protected  Possums  on  his 
plantation?"  said  Mr.  Blake. 

"Doan  know  if  he  call  it  pertected.  All  he  says 
was  —  'Doan  let  mc  ketch  none  o'  you  boys  a  touchiii' 
Possums  till  de  corn's  ripe.  If  dey  need  killin',  I  kin 
ten'  to  it  myself  till  den.' 

"  One  day  he  come  roun'  to  de  cabin  and  he  says : 
'Doan  you  know  dat  little  I'ossums  has  big  'lashuns  dat 
lib  down  Australy  way,  what  carries  dere  babies  in  a 
big  apron  pocket,  jest  like  Possum  does,  and  am  bigger 
dan  a  man,  and  jump,  jump  'long  on  liind  legs  quicker 
dan  Rabbits  run  ?  Well,  den,  you  listen  I  Dis  big  cousin 
he  swim  ober  sea  and  come  here  visitin'  lit'le  cousin 
lalong  in  spring  and  summer,  and  if  he  find  niggers 
chasin'  lit'le  cousin  in  de  woods,  he  put  dem  niggers  in 
his  pocket  and  carry  dem  off  wif  him.  Hims  name 
K-a-n-g-a-r-o-o  ! '  Lan'I  how  Massa  roll  dat  word  out 
long  I  And  dough  we  know  he  were  a  foolin'  o'  us  wid 
stories,  we  didn't  go  in  dem  woods  dose  times  nebber! 

*' Now  de  Possum  am  a  cunnin'  lit'le  foliar,  not  nnicli 
bigger  dan  a  cat.  He  got  briglit  lit'le  eyes  an'  a  white 
face  and  a  snout  mos'  like  a  pig.  lie  got  a  soft  co't, 
some  sho't  brown  fur,  and  some  long  and  white,  only  it 
don't  lie  soft  like  cat  fur;  it  all  stick  up  and  rumfles. 
His  lotir  l(!gs  lias  got  liands  on  all  ob  dem,  insle.id  o' 
feet,  and  lie  can  climb  like  {\v  mischii'f.  He  liab  got 
aiioder  ban'  too,  a  1-o-n-g  rat  tail,  dat  cuil  roun'  like  cm- 
snake.  It  holes  on  jest  like  it  war  a  ban',  and  Possum 
wind  it  roun'  dor  branch  and  bang  hissclf  down  and  gn 
mos'  t(M'  slee[). 


''B'ARS   .(.VI>  POSSUMS 


» " 


383 


"  But  ain'  dem  Possums  got  qneev  ways  ?  I  seen  'em 
often  walkin'  along  der  fiel's  sidewise-like  an'  slow-like 
in  de  moonlite,  lying  down  and  [)layin'  dey're  daid  if 
anybody  touch  'em,  den  up  to  monkey  tricks  all  b}^ 
(lerselves.     Dey  can  smell  good  too,  —  as  good  as  dogs, 


and  keeps  roun'  der  oder  side  ob  trees  when  folks  is 
cMtmin".  Ain'  do  lit'le  IN)ssum  putty  I  Not  when  (h'v 
so  hery  lit'le,  dougb.  Den  dey  is  iiowcrl'iil  small,  like 
lit'le  mice,  and  di  r  nia  slie  liab  to  kccji  'em  in  her 
apron  pocket  morna,  month  bel'o'  di^y  can  go  out  walkin' 
on  dere  own  legs.  IVior  Ma-  Possum,  she  linb  a  dicllly 
wturyin'  time,  an'  am  worse  olY'n  Kabltits  ;  lor  she  hab  in 


384 


FOUlt-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


her  tree  hoF  maybe  twenty  Possums  ebery  year,  and 
habe  ter  tote  'em  all  roun'  —  Rabbit  she  kin  leave  hers 
in  cle  grass  nes'. 

"•  When  little  Possums  furst  goes  out  walkin'  dey 
want  ter  ride  on  der  ma's  back,  and  when  she  try  to 
shake  'em  off  dey  curls  dey  tails  round  her  like  dey 
was  a  hangin'  to  a  branch !  Yah !  Fse  seen  'em  I  1  h 
he-Possum  he  walk  curious  like  — set  him  foot  flat  down 
like  men  does,  an'  shor's  you  born  der  B'ars  walks  diit 
way  too ! 

"  Doan  I  mind  one  frosty  time  afore  Cris'mus,  Sam])o 
and  me  were  goin'  ober  to  his  sister  Liza's  cabin,  de 
caine-brake  side  er  de  plantation  —  she  did  de  laundry 
fer  de  big  liouse.  But  she  weren't  to  home,  and  when 
we  got  dere,  such  a  sight!  Eberytin'  was  upset!  De 
bake  oven  was  all  gone ;  de  meal  jar  was  cleaned  out ; 
de  wash  tubs  was  rolled  out,  and  one  was  bust,  and  de 
nice  rocker  dat  your  gran'ma.  Miss  Olive,  givo  Liza 
when  she  war  mar-ied  was  split  in  kin'lin's. 

" '  Dere  been  a  B'ar  dis  way ! '  sez  Sambo,  softlike, 
leanin'  down  an'  lookin'  at  de  footprints;  'an'  a  Ing 
B'ar  too ! ' 

""Does  yer  tink  lie's  eat  Liza?'  savs  L  a  quakin'  and 
sinkin'  down  like  der  jelly  (tonic  cooks  makes. 

''  'Slio,  no  !  Liza's  all  right.  B'ars  doan  eat  f»)lks, — 
only  dey 's  full  ()' mischief.  Lan' sakcs  !  he's  took  Liza's 
pig!  It's  over  yonder  and  part  eat,  and  Imre  der  ITar 
liab  chawed  and  (dawed  dvr  tree  liigh  up  ns  liiin  conid 
stretcli ;  dat's  a  sign  for  oder  IVars  !  I. el's  .-.kip!'  says 
Sambo,  a  grabbin'  me  and  slartin'. 

"' Wliatfer?'  says  L     '  Vou  jest  'iitwcd  lie  wouhlnt 


eat  us ! 


I » 


''jrARS  AND  POSSUMS'' 


385 


iVcd  lie  wouldn't 


"'What  fer?  Fer  ter  tell  Massa  Bianaconib,  and 
den  he'll  tak'  de  dogs  out!  'Tain't  offen  IVars  come 
near  de  cabins,  dough  de  far  woods  am  full  ob  'em ! ' 

"  'Twarn't  an  hour  afoie  de  dogs  was  out,  and  I  could 
hear  'em  yelpin'.  Dere  was  most  twenty  of  'em.  All 
kin's,  —  some  hounds,  some  tarriers,  and  some  not  anv 
kind  at  all.  I  heard  'em  go  along  down  de  edge  toward 
Liza's  cabin,  and  den  when  Grip  —  he  war  an  ole  hound — 
let  a  yell,  I  knowd  dey  had  struck  de  track !  Well ! 
well  I  Sambo  he  neber  come  back  till  nigh  morniii'. 
He  'lowed,  dey  had  a  long  run  and  a  glor'us  light  wid 
dat  B'ar.  Dat  Massa  Johns  (he  was  d*  ol)erseer)  was 
clawed,  and  Grip  was  bit,  and  two  cur  dogs  gut  killM ; 
for  dat  B'ar  jest  backed  against  a  tree,  and  fight  all  ober 
till  Massa  Bransconib  shoot  him  in  de  side ! 

"  Massa  gib  Sambo  some  ob  der  best  meat,  'cause  he 
found  de  B'ar  tracks,  a  leaf  o'  fat,  some  libber,  and  er 
chunk  er  rump,  and  nex'  day  we  chop  it  all  up  wif 
bac'n  and  peppers,  and  tie  it  tight  in  dat  leaf  er  fat, 
and  fry  it  in  der  pan.  It  mak'  de  finest  eatin'  sassage 
in  de  worl' !  Sambo  he  got  er  taste  er  sport  and  meat, 
and  'lowed  he  liked  'em  boff,  so  nex'  night,  seein'  dere 
was  a  moon,  he  went  for  Possums  wid  de  Hiuidolph 
boys,  —  C{i\sar,  Job,  and  Marcus-Uelyns.  Dey  had 
some  or'nery  dogs,  and  Sambo  took  de  axe,  and  he 
'1ow(m1  to  know  wlieie  dere  was  tine  "Possums. 

"Way  <ley  do,  dey  get  de  dogs  on  de  track,  and 
I'nllcrs  "em  close  uj).  Sometimes  de  I'ossunTU  get  co't 
on  de  ground,  and  den  he  loll  up  and  jtlay  daid,  and 
f^n't  kilt  easy.  Odder  Hmos  he  hide  in  de  tree  hole, 
and  d«'v  iiab  to  cut  down  der  tree,  and  oddei-  times  lie 
slick  to  a  branch  and  curl   liis  tail  ar(»nn'.  ami  den  de 


i 


386 


FOUR-FOOTED   AMERICANS 


boys  shake  him  off,  and  de  dogs  dey  finish  him.  Do 
you  know,  sliore  as  you  born,  if  dat  man  Sambo  didnt 
fotch  home  fi'ee  Possums  and  one  big  Coon.  My,  we 
libbed  high  dat  week !  Roast  Possum  wid  an  apple  in 
his  mouf !     Lan',  I  kin  taste  it  dis  yer  minut!  " 

"I  don't  see  how  you  could  eat  anything  as  pretty  us 
Billy  Coon,"  said  Dodo,  repioachfuUy. 

'"  Sho,  honey !  it  was  only  meat  to  we  uns,  and  meat 
was  source.  We  eat  'em  like  you  uns  eat  chickens. 
We  didn't  eat  no  house  pets  like  Billy.  An'  de  B'ars, 
if  dey  wain't  kep'  down  der  wouldn't  be  a  pig  left  to 
mak'  bac'n  on  de  'hole  plantation,  and  what  ud  we 
uns  be  without  bac'n!  Lan' I  but  dat  fuist  Possum 
war  good  I  De  f urst  one  Sambo  an'  me  had  after  ve 
got  mar-ied.  An'  dat  Coon  he  war  as  fat  as  grease,  an' 
dem  Car'lina  taters  dat  Massa  gib  Sambo,  'count  ob  der 
B'ar,  dey  was  jest  meltin'  wid  der  bac'n  fat !  Lan' ! 
lan'!  an'  warn't  dat  Possum  cracklin'  all  ober  wlien  he 
war  roasted !  We  had  comp'ny  all  dat  week,  I  tells 
yer,  but  yer  ought  to  see  dat  —  Lan'  sakes ! "  cried 
Mammy,  coming  suddenly  North  again,  '-Possums  or 
no  Possums,  I  near  done  forgot  to  set  dat  sponge  for  de 
buckwheat  caikes !  " 

"Now,  who  can  answer  the  riddle?"  asked  Mr.  Blake, 
as  soon  as  the  laugh  at  Mammy's  sudden  exit  had  suit- 
sided.     "  Why  is  a  Possum  like  a  liear?" 

'*  I  can,"  said  l{a[),  eagerly.  " 'I'licy  botli  walk  on  tlio 
soles  of  their  fe(!t,  they  can  bolli  (dimb  trees,  tiiey  will 
botli  eat  'mosi  aiiyiliing,  and  the  lil(l<'  licai's  and  Pos- 
sutns  are  feeble  and  tiny  and  aren't  good  foi'  nuudi  wlieii 
tliey  are  born,  and  lake  a  lot  of  tiiuding  before  tlieir 
eyes  are  open." 


XXVIII 


Vmm    MOLEI'OWN   TO   BATVILLE 


uns,  and  meat 
i  eat  cliickeiis. 

All'  de  IVais, 
3  a  pig  left  to 
\  what  \i(l  we 
,  furst  Possum 
e  had  after  ve 
t  as  grease,  an' 
),  'count  ob  dor 
'ii  fat!  Lan'! 
1  ober  when  he 
t  week,  I  tells 

sakes!"  cried 
,  "•  Possums  or 
t  sponge  for  de 

dved  Mr.  Blake, 
•n  exit  had  sul)- 

»(h  walk  on  the 
trees,  they  will 
I 'ears  and  Pos- 
f(ir  much  when 
IIP'  lu'fure  their 


» 


388 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


>      f 


"  Uncle  says  he  will  read  to  us,  but  we  can't  have 
the  Audubon  animal  books  or  any  of  the  others  to  liold 
in  our  hands  or  look  at,  for  fear  the  measles  should  hide 
in  between  the  leaves  to  steal  a  ride,  and  pop  out  and 
visit  somebody  else." 

Tlie  children  behaved  very  well.  Dodo  was  a  little 
fidgety  at  first  and  couldn't  bear  to  look  at  her  speckled 
hands,  and,  as  gloves  pinched,  insisted  upon  having 
stockings  pulled  over  them  and  fastened  at  the  she  el- 
ders. Nat  laughed  until  lie  cried  when  he  saw  her 
sitting  up  in  bed  trying  to  feed  lh;iM<^lf. 

"O  Dodo  I"  lie  gasped,  "you  look  exactly  like  the 
picture  of  the  Manatee  fanning  his  food  iiiLo  his  mouth 
with  his  flii)pers  !"  '* 

A  week  passed,  aii-i  the  children  were  sitting  up  by 
the  lire  i)laying  cV>ockers  with  a  board  ruled  on  a  box 
cover,  and  black  and  white  bone  buttons  for  men,  when 
they  hcaid  Doctor  lioy's  voice  saying,  "It  was  hanging 
rpside  down  to  the  roof  in  the  far  end  of  the  root 
cellar,  so  I  fetched  it  for  the  youngsters ;  thought  it 
might  please  "em  !  " 

"  r  wonder  what  it  is,"  said  Nat.  "  It  must  be  a 
coooon." 

Then  the  Doctor  came  in  carrying  a  board  covered 
witli  a  win;  cheese  screen.  "Here  is  a  visitor  that  you 
will  be  very  glad  to  see,  and  who  will  not  be  afraid  of 
the  measl.'s.  Let  me  introduce  you  to  Veapfrfilio  sidni- 
latux,  —  tin.  little  Hrowi)  !*>at  who  had  hung  himself  up 
for  the  wiiiter  sleep,  but,  as  you  see,  he  is  now  (piite 
wide;  awake  and  ready  to  bite  my  linger,  tliongh  the 
light  confuses  liim  so  that  lu;  is  trying  to  find  a  dark 
corner  of  the  board  to  huh'  in." 


b  we  can't  have 
e  others  to  hold 
isles  should  hide 
nd  pop  out  and 

)odo  was  a  little 
i.  at  her  speckled 
ed  upon  having 
ed  at  the  she  mI- 
hen  he   saw  her 

fcxaotly  like  the 
)d  into  his  month 

ere  sitting  up  by 
lI  ruled  on  a  box 
Ins  for  men,  when 
"  It  was  hanging 
end  of  the  root 
^ters;    thought  it 

"It   must  be  a 

^  a  hoard  covered 
a  visitor  that  you 
il  not  be  afraid  of 
o  VeHpcrfilio  snhu- 
{  hung  himself  np 
S  he  is  now  ([uite 
inger,  tlioiigh  the 
ng  to  lind  a  dark 


FROM  MOLETOWN   TO  BATVILLE 


389 


"Isn't  it  jolly  I"  cried  Nat.  "You  said  that  we 
couldn't  understand  riglitly  about  the  Hat's  wings,  and 
how  tliey  were  different  from  a  bird's  or  a  Flying 
Squirrel's,  unless  we  saw  one.  Will  you  tell  us  about 
him  here  to-day?  Because  you  said  we  couldn't  go 
hfick  to  camp  for  another  week." 

"  Yes,  that  is  what  I  intended.  See,  I  have  brought 
up  a  few  pictures.  You  can  look  at  them,  and  then 
they  shall  have  a  wliift'  of  sulphur  to  choke  any  measles 
that  might  wish  to  follow  tliem  back  to  the  portfolio. 


Little  BnowN  Bat. 


"  We  iiave  climbed  the  ladder  almost  to  the  last 
hranch  of  our  Mammal  tree.  Here  we  f;nd  at  the  very 
to[),  close  to  man  himself,  two  orders  of  very  strange 
hcasts,  one  living  underground  and  one  in  the  air.  We 
have  seen  how  our  Mannnals  are  adapted  to  the  con- 
ditions in  whicli  they  live.  How  water-lovers  have 
wi^bbed  feet  for  swimming,  and  climbers  sliarp  claws, 
l»ut  in  tljcse  two  great  orders,  Insectivora  or  Insect- 
eating  and  Cliiroplera.  or  Wing-iiandcd  Mammals,  the 
Itiirlicnlar  d('V('l()i)nRMit,  which  the  Wise  Men  call  i<j)<'- 
cltilizifdoiu  is  truly  W(»u(U'il'ul. 


390 


FOUR-FOOT KD  AMERICANS 


a 


Let  us  begin  witli  the  Jnsect-eateis  aiul  go  under- 
ground to  Moletown.  Tliis  tiibe  has  a  great  many 
different  colonies  scattered  all  over  the  earth,  but  the 
residents  of  Moletown,  that  you  are  likely  to  see,  will  be 
the  Sinews  or  tlie  Moles  themselves.  You  would  never 
know  by  mere  sight  that  these  stupid-looking,  mouse- 
colored  animals,  with  round,  furry  bodies,  small  eyes, 
and  various  kinds  of  sliovel  claws,  belonged  so  high  up 
iu  the  Mannnal  tree,  but  tlie  Wise  Men  have  placed 
them  tlicre  l)ecause  of  their  special  features,  some  of 
wliich  yon  could  not  possibly  understand. 

"Tiiat  tlie  Mole  was  made  to  tunnel  in  the  ground 
and  live  in  the  dark,  vou  can  see  for  yourselves  very 
easily.  Take  this  2)icture  and  notice  how  strong  and 
powerfid  tlie  head  and  fore  parts  of  the  body  are  com- 
pared to  the  small  hind  legs.  The  arms  are  fastened 
close  to  the  short  neck  to  take  up  as  little  side  room  as 
possible  in  burrowing,  while  the  hands  are  broad,  heavy 
shovels,  flesh-colored  inside  and  edged  with  five  short 
fingers.  The  [)ink  nose  is  pointed  and  very  •  ensitive, 
the  e3'es  small  and  so  protected  with  skin  that  man}" 
people  think  them  wholly  blind.  The  fur  is  short,  soft, 
of  a  beautiful  silvery  ash  gray,  darkening  to  lead  color." 

"I  remember  the  fur,"  said  Dodo,  " aiul  how  badly  it 
made  my  iiiigers  smell  when  I  tried  to  sew  it,  and  you 
said  the  smell  ])rotected  the  Mole.  Do  all  the  people 
in  Moleto  vn  have  this  smell,  Uncle  Koy?" 

"Yes,  oni'  M(tles  and  Shrews  are  so  perfumed  that 
only  a  very  hungiy  fourfoot  will  eat  them,  but  Hawks 
and  Owls  ar((  not  so  parlicnlar. 

•"The  AIolc  thai  yon  have  often  seen  this  summer 
is  the    .'onunon   specie's.      lie   has  a  ('(Uisin   hereabouts, 


ws 


>,  and  go  under- 
s  a  great  many 
e  earth,  but  the 
}ly  to  see,  will  be 
{on  would  never 
-looking,  mouse- 
dies,  small  eyes, 
^nged  so  high  up 
len  have  placed 
eatures,  some  of 
id. 

3I  in  the  ground 
yourselves  very 
how  strong  and 
he  body  are  com- 
rms  are  fastened 
ittle  side  room  as 
are  broad,  heavy 
1  with  five  short 
id  very  ■  ensitive, 
skin  tluit  man} 
fur  is  short,  soft, 
nir  to  lead  color." 
and  how  badly  it 
)  sew  it,  and  you 
)o  all  the  people 
)y  r 

;()  perfumed   that 
Lheni,  but  Hawks 

cen  this  summer 
)HsiM   hereabouts, 


0 


0 


/ 


FROM  MOLETOWN   TO  BATVILLE 


391 


who  wears  an  ornament  on  Lis  nose  like  the  rays  of  a 
tiny  ox-eyed  daisy  made  in  flesh ;  tiiis  thing  is  siij)- 
posed  to  aid  his  strong  power  of  scent  and  has  given 
him   the   name   of  Star-nosed  Mole.     Tliis  Mole  has  a 


Star-noskd  Molk. 


longer,  thicker,  hairier  tail  than  his  common  cousin, 
hut  his  arms  are  not  so  ])owerful,  and  he  has  not  the 
perfect  shovel  liands.  Now,  how  do  these  tunnellers 
live,  what  do  they  eat,  and  are  they  doers  of  good  or 
of  evil? 

"  When  the  jNIole  enters  fresh  ground  to  make  a  home, 
he  first  burrows  a  slanting  pathway  a  couple  of  inches 
underground;  below  this  the  main  avenues  are  extended 
tln-ough  the  section  he  considers  his  farm.  These  wide 
avenues  by  being  constantly  used  become  smooth  and 
iirni  from  the  pressure  of  the  animal's  body,  and  he  does 
not  willingly  leave  tliem,  but  often  lepairs  them  if  tliey 
cave  in.  At  intervals  there  are  short  side  roads  from 
these  avenues,  that  serve  as  hiding-i)laces  or  switch 
tracks,  for  a  Mole  to  step  into  when  he  meets  one  of 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


turn  |2s 

us,    12.0 


lU 


11:25  iu 


—  *" 


1.6 


f> 


i^ 


^>' 


// 


V 


fliotographic 

^ScMices 

Corporation 


as  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

VVIUTIR, NY.  I4SM 

(7'«)I7]-4S03 


r-'M'-> 


392 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


'i^';'^ 


pi  I 


HI 


•I!  I 

!  1      ] 


»!  i',^ 


I  M 
I  ! 


h 


his  family  in  the  main  passage.  Six  and  eight  inches, 
or  even  a  foot  or  two,  below  ground,  connecting  with 
the  main  avenue  we  find  the  nest,  —  a  comfortable, 
domed  room  something  the  shape  of  an  inverted  six- 
inch  flower  pot,  furnished  with  a  good  bed  in  one 
corner.  This  nest  also  has  several  outlets  to  allow  the 
family  to  escape  in  case  of  an  earthquake,  such  as  a 
sub-soil  plough  would  cause  in  Moleville,  but  wo  must 
not  confuse  these  avenues  with  the  shallow  burrows 
the  Mole  is  constantly  throwing  up  in  his  daily  search 
for  food. 

"  Moles  live  chiefly  on  animal  food,  insects,  grubs,  and 
earthworms  being  on  their  daily  bill  of  fare.  So  when 
we  see  a  lawn  or  held  ridged  and  uneven  from  their 
tunnelling,  we  must  remember  that,  annoying  and  un- 
sightly as  it  is,  if  the  piece  of  ground  were  not  full  of 
evil-minded  insect  or  worm  life,  the  Moles  would  not 
choose  it  for  their  hunting  ground.  The  Mole  once 
having  established  a  home  can  make  endless  excursions 
from  its  main  avenues  directed  to  his  prey,  by  his  keen 
senses  of  touch  and  smell,  as  accurately  as  the  Wolf  or 
Fox.  Wlien  frost  seals  the  ground,  he  dives  into  a  safe 
deep  nest  and  stays  tliere  until  early  spring,  when  he 
goes  in  search  of  a  mate,  but  in  ojjcn  winters  I  have 
seen  his  'hills'  rising  through  an  old  cornfield  in 
January. 

"  People  who  say  that  the  Mole  eats  bulbs  and  plant 
roots  make  a  mistake  and  judge  by  appearances  only, 
wliicli  you  have  both  learned  is  a  dangerous  thing  to  do 
when  climbing  the  animal  tree.  Moles  do  root  up  the 
ground  and  duturh  plants,  when  grubs  and  larvje  are 
liiddon  among  their  roots.     Ahn  iSfeadow  Mice  follow 


» .  I 


FROM  MOLETOWN   TO   liATVlLLE 


393 


I  eight  inches, 
)n  nee  ting  with 
a  comfortable, 

II  inverted  six- 
)d  bed  in  one 
}ts  to  allow  the 
lake,  such  as  a 
e,  but  we  must 
hallow  burrows 
bis  daily  search 

sects,  grubs,  and 
fare.     So  when 
)veu  from  their 
inoying  and  un- 
were  not  full  of 
loles  would  not 
The  Mole  once 
lUess  excursions 
•ey,  by  his  keen 
as  the  Wolf  or 
lives  into  a  safe 
pring,  when  he 
winters  I  have 
lid    cornfield   in 

Ibulbs  and  plant 
[pearances  only, 
I'ous  thing  to  do 
do  root  up  the 
and  larvse  are 
i)\v  Mice  follow 


in  Mole  tracks  and  nibble  anything  they  can  find,  from 
tulips  to  turnips.  But  we  have  no  positive  proof  that 
Moles  eat  vegetable  food.  In  fact,  they  ;ire  ravenous 
meat-eaters,  and  wlien  the  experiment  was  made  of 
feeding  a  captive  Mole  with  vegetiibles  he  very  soon 
died  of  starvation.^ 

"  The  Mole  has  his  regular  times  of  feeding,  his  sur- 
face burrows  being  made  commonly  at  early  morning, 
noon,  and  night,  wet  weather  favoring,  his  work  by 
softening  the  grouiul.  There  are  many  traps  invented 
to  catch  him,  and  owners  of  fine  lawns  and  fiower  gar- 
dens owe  him  a  grudge  and  would  willingly  l»esiege 
Moleville  with  fire  and  sword,  killing  every  inhabitant 
if  possible.  From  their  standpoint  he  is  a  great  nui- 
sance. Nature  would  say,  I  suppose :  '  He  is  doing  my. 
work,  get  rid  of  the  evil  insects  yourself,  —  cut  off  his 
reason  for  living  with  yon  and  the  Mole  will  go.'  Mean- 
while here  at  the  farm  I  shall  continue  to  set  traps  for 
him. 

"There  is  another  family  of  insect-eaters  called  Shrews 
who  are  closely  related  to  the  Moles,  though  looking  much 
more  like  mice.  They  are  small  and  slender,  with  tiny 
ears  and  eyes  that  can  at  least  tell  light  from  darkness, 
though  their  wonderful  senses  of  touch  and  smell  are 
their  chief  guides.  They  feed  both  day  and  night,  some- 
times running  along  the  surface  of  the  ground  in  broad 
daylight.  Tiiey  love  the  woods  as  a  Mole  does  the  open 
country,  and  have  their  holes  in  oasily  reached  places 
under  roots  and  in  logs,  for  they  lack  the  Moles'  shovel 
hands  for  deep  burrowing. 

"Tlie  Short-tailed  Shrew  is  our  most  common  species. 
1  Dr.  V.  Hart  Mcrriam.  }f(tmmr(l»  of  Adh'oudiU'hs. 


394 


FOUn-FOOTED   AMERICANS 


It  is  a  vigorous  animal,  not  liibernating  in  the  coldest 
weather,  and  you  may  almost  mistake  its  tiny  footprints 
on  the  snow  for  bird-tracks.  It  is  a  savage  little  beast, 
too,  and  a  blood-thirsty  fighter,  being  the  especial  enemy 
of  the  Meadow  Mouse,  or  Vole,  as  some  people  call  it. 

"  Many  Wise 
Men  whose 
words  we  can 
trust  have  told 
of  battles  be- 
tween these 
Shrews  only 
three  and  three- 
quarter  inches 
long  and  Mead- 
ow Mice  four 
and  one -half 
inches  long. 
One  of  these 
men,  in  order  to 
sec  exactly  how 
it  was  done,  put 
a  Shrew  and  a 
Meadow  Mouse 
into  a  box  and 
watched  them.  Soon  they  were  rolling  about  in  a  rough- 
and-tumble  light,  the  Shrew  biting  at  the  ears  of  the 
Mouse,  which  he  finiiUy  killed  and  immediately  began 
to  eat.  So  when  we  tliiiik  how  mischievous  the  Meadow 
Mouse  is,  wo  should  be  very  grateful  to  this  Shrew 
with  tlie  lead-colored  fur  and  short  tail. 

"There  is  another   Shrew,  common   in   the   middle 


mirsi^ 


5(Ti>  Thtwf.  I'x. 


Short-tailkd  Hhrew. 


II  the  coldest 
iny  footprints 
3  little  beast, 
special  enemy 
;ople  call  it. 

"  Many  Wise 
[en     whose 
Olds    we   can 
■list  have  told 
f    battles    be- 
ween    these 
hrews  only 
liree  and  three- 
uarter    inches 
Diiff  and  Mead- 
w    Mice    fonr 
nd     one -half 
nohes  long. 
)ne    of     these 
len,  in  order  to 
eo  exactly  how 
b  was  done,  put 

Shrew  and  a 
leadow  Mouse 
ito  a  box  and 
)ut  in  a  rongh- 
le  ears  of  the 
idiately  began 

s  the  Meadow 

,0  this  Shrew 

n   the   middle 


FROM  MOLETOWN   TO  BATVILLE 


395 


West,  that  contests  with  a  tiny  pocket  mouse  the  honor 
of  being  the  '  least  beast '  on  our  Mammal  tree.  This 
is  the  Least  Shrew,  who  measures  only  a  trifle  over  two 
inches  in  length.  When  we  think  of  the  length  of  a 
Whale,  and  that  both  Shrew  and  Whale  are  living 
Mammals,  belonging  either  on  American  soil  or  in 
American  waters,  our  Mammal  tree  seems  to  bear  the 


1  ^^m^^^^' 


The  Lkamt  Shkkw. 

most  wonderful  fruit  of  which  our  country  can  boast. 
I  hope  that  many  children  may  follow  us  in  our  climb, 
as  far  as  they  are  able,  without  being  made  dizzy  by 
trying  to  explore  the  maze  of  the  smaller  branches  and 
twigs. 

"Look  at  your  Hat;  lie  has  eaten  the  slireds  of  meat  I 
gave  him.  I  will  take  him  out  and  spiead  his  wings  for 
you  to  see.  It  is  always  better  to  follow  Nature's  plan 
and  travel  upward  instead  of  downward  ;  so  let  us  go  up 


396 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


i    -t 


/ 


ill  the  trees  to  Batville  and  see  how  its  inhabitants  live 
and  work. 

"  First  look  at  the  specialization  that  enables  the  Bat 
to  fly  with  real  wings,  —  fly,  and  not  merely  sail  like 
the  Flying  Squirrel,"  said  the  Doctor,  holding  the  Bat's 
wings  open.  "  See  the  shoulder,  elbow,  and  long  fore- 
arm. The  fingers  begin  to  divide  at  the  wrist,  so  the 
hand  has  no  palm.  There  is  a  sort  of  hooked  thumb, 
and  then  the  other  fingers  grow  long  and  support  the 
skin  that  makes  the  wing,  as  the  frame  supports  an 
umbrella.  The  hind  limbs,  you  see,  are  small  and  very 
weak  in  contrast  to  the   strong  collar-bone  and  long 


arms. 

"  Oh,  yes ! "  cried  Nat.  "  Rap  said  a  Flying  SquiiTel's 
coat  was  like  a  blanket  fastened  to  the  wrist  and  ankles, 
and  the  Bat's  wings  are  all  skin  like  a  three-cornered 
shawl,  with  its  arms  fastened  in  the  top  corners  and  the 
point  fastened  to  the  tip  of  its  tail." 

"Yes,  and  you  remember  how  the  bird's  wing  was 
like  an  arm  with  only  the  beginning  of  two  fingers  and 
thumb,  that  served  as  a  frame  to  hold  the  fringe  of 
feathers.  Though  birds  are  not  Mammals,  their  branch 
of  the  animal  tree  grows  very  close  by." 

"Are  all  Bats  made  the  same  way.  Uncle  Roy?  I 
remember  a  picture  of  one  in  a  book  that  I  had.  It  was 
called  the  Vampire  Bat ;  it  ate  people  and  belonged  to 
some  very  far  away  country.  It  must  take  a  very  big 
sort  of  Bat  to  kill  peo[)le." 

"  Tlu  wings  of  all  Bats  are  made  on  the  same  plan, 
though  their  bodies  vary  greatly  in  size ;  but  the  forma- 
tion of  teeth,  noses,  eais,  and  so  forth,  varies  according 
to  the  needs  of  the  different  species.     Thus  the  Fruit- 


habitants  live 

[lables  the  Bat 
erely  sail  like 
ding  the  Bat's 
and  long  fore- 
B  wrist,  so  the 
ooked  thumb, 
id  support  the 
3  supports  an 
mall  and  very 
one  and  long 

ing  SquiiTel's 
ist  and  ankles, 
three-cornered 
prners  and  the 

■d's  wing  was 
vo  fingers  and 
the  fringe  of 
;,  their  branch 

ncle  Roy?    I 

had.     It  w.as 

d  belonged  to 

ke  a  very  big 

le  same  plan. 
Kit  the  forma- 
ries  according 
us  the  Fruit- 


FliOM  MOLETOWN   TO  BATVILLE 


397 


eating  Bat  has  ears  and  eyes  of  moderate  size,  while  the 
insect-eaters  have  very  large  ears,  small  eyes,  and  wide 
mouths  fringed  with  hair,  tliat  make  a  sort  of  fly-tr.'ip 
akin  to  the  Whip-poor-will's  beak.  The  Fruit-eating 
Bats  have  a  raised-up  ring  on  the  tongue,  which  gives 
them  great  sucking  power.  They  are  thus  able  to  suck 
the  juice  from  large  fruits  that  they  cannot  pick  and  eat. 
Sometimes  when  very  hungry  they  have  been  known 
to  suck  the  blood  from  the  small  surface  veins,  or 
capillaries^  of  cattle,  or  even  people,  but  they  never  eat 
people  or  do  any  of  the  savage  things  that  story  books  are 
so  fond  of  relating.  The  real  Vampire  Bat  of  tropical 
America,  Desmodon  rufus^  as  the  Wise  Men  call  him,  is  a 
little  fellow  no  larger  than  our  Little  Red  Bat  and  has  no 
middle  front  teeth  or  molars,  but  instead  has  two  sharp 
dog-teeth  that  he  uses  to  prick  the  flesh  so  that  he  may 
suck  blood.  Me  will  sometimes  fasten  upon  the  toes 
of  sleeping  people,  and  the  negroes  are  very  much 
afraid  of  him.  Our  familiar  Bats  are  small  and  of  the 
insect-eating  species.  Four  belong  in  the  family  of 
Twilight  Bats,  called  Vesjyer-til-ion-ithv^  and  one  to  the 
family  of  House  Bats. 

"Numerous  as  Bats  are,  very  little  is  seen  of  them, 
for  they  are  lovers  of  darkness,  not  coming  out  to  hunt 
their  insect  food  until  after  the  last  Vesper  Sparrow  has 
gone  to  sleep,  and  the  Whip-poor-will  has  begun  to  com- 
plain. They  are  obliged  to  take  a  very  long  winter 
nap.  You  have  seen  that  tlie  insect-eating  birds  leave 
us  earlier  in  autumn  than  the  seed-eaters ;  so  for  the 
same  reason  Bats,  who  do  not  migrate,  go  to  sleep  when 
the  frost  clears  the  insects  from  their  airy  hunting 
grounds.     Then  they  flit  away  to  some  dark  old  build- 


Ti-X 


[!V 


1  t 


398 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


S    !l 


' 


ing,  cavern,  or  abandoned  mine  shaft,  far  enough  from 
the  air  not  to  freeze,  and  hanging  themselves  up  by  the 
hind  feet,  fall  into  such  a  deep  sleep  that  you  cannot 
detect  the  faintest  breath." 

"  What  a  dreadfully  cold  way  to  sleep,"  said  Dodo, 
shivering  at  the  thought.  "  Hanging  up  so  that  the 
wind  can  blow  right  through  them  and  nothing  to  keep 
their  feet  warm.  Do  they  always  sleep  that  way  in 
summer,  Uncle  Roy?" 

"Usually  when  found  in  the  daytime  hidden  in  out- 
buildings or  under  large  leaves  they  are  hanging  in  that 
way,  and  their  young  are  often  found  clinging  to  them 
and  nursing  in  this  position," 

"  Do  they  build  nests  ?  "  asked  Nat.  ^ 

"No,  they  either  suspend  themselves  wherever  they 
happen  to  be,  or  crawl  under  the  roofs  of  old  buildings, 
which  they  sometimes  occupy  in  great  parties.  You  see 
they  hang  up  to  go  to  sleep  as  naturally  as  we  lie  down." 

"  Can  they  walk  at  all,  or  do  they  always  fly  ? " 
asked  Dodo. 

"  They  can  walk  along  slowly  and  with  a  good  deal 
of  trouble  by  clinging  witli  their  hooked  thumbs,  their 
wings  being  folded  and  sticking  up  like  the  hind  legs 
of  a  grasshopper.  ' 

"  The  House  Bat  (called  the  Snouty  Bat  by  the  Wise 
Men,  because  of  its  curious  nose)  is  a  small  light- 
brown  species  common  in  the  South,  which  makes 
attics  and  roofs  its  favorite  resting-places.  It  seems 
to  use  its  feet  more  than  any  other  species  and  may 
be  heard  shuffling  about  after  dark,  making  the  same 
noise  that  you  would  imagine  might  come  from  a 
party  of  mice  on  crutches. 


'  enough  from 
Ives  up  by  the 
at  you  cannot 

p,"  said  Dodo, 
ip  so  that  the 
othing  to  keep 
)  that  way  in 

hidden  in  out- 
anging  in  that 
iiging  to  them 

wherever  they 

old  buildings, 

•ties.     You  see 

;  we  lie  down." 

always   fly  ?  " 

;h  a  good  deal 
i  thumbs,  their 
the  hind  legs 

^t  by  the  Wise 
a  small  light- 
which  makes 
ces.  It  seems 
jcies  and  may 
dug  the  same 
come   from   a 


FROM  MOLETOWN   TO  BATVILLE 


399 


"  This  Little  Brown  Bat  tliat  Rod  has  brouglit  seems 
to  have  been  living  alone  in  the  root  cellar,  though  I 
dare  say  if  we  looked  we  sliould  find  others.  You  saw 
them  last  summer  flapping  about  when  we  were  looking 
for  Whip-poor-wills." 

"The  Bats  we  saw  seemed  much  bigger  than  this," 
said  Nat.  "  Aren't  there  any  larger  ones  here  that  we 
might  have  seen  ?  " 

"  Yes,  we  have  the  Brown  Bat,  who  is  the  same  color 
as  this  little  brother,  but  spreads  his  wings  two  inches 
further,  and  the  beautiful  Red  Bat  with  liis  shaded 
'golden-red'  coat  frosted  with  white.  This  Red  Bat  is 
one  of  the  earliest  to  come  out  at  niglit,  and  may  some- 
times be  seen  even  in  cloudy  days,  and  it  is  more  com- 
mon here  than  the  Little  Brown  Bat,  and  is  not  much 
larger.  It  is  a  most  devoted  parent,  and  mothers  have 
been  known  to  follow  their  children,  which  are  usually 
twins,  to  the  rooms  of  houses  where  they  were  made 
prisoners.  Still  I  am  quite  sure  that  our  visitor,  this 
Little  Brown  Bat,  is  the  species  that  has  flapped  in 
our  very  faces  this  summer,  for  anything  on  the  wing 
seems  much  larger  than  when  held  in  the  hand. 

"  There  is  a  very  beautiful  sp  :^ies  called  the  Hoary 
Bat,  with  frosty  gray  fur,  that  1  have  found  in  the 
far  hickory  woods,  and  though  it  ranges  from  the  Sas- 
katchewan country  down  through  the  highlands  as  far 
as  Mexico,  very  few  people  except  the  Wise  Men  know 
it  for  a  Bat  —  and  why  ?  Because  in  the  first  place  it 
does  not  begin  to  fly  until  quite  dark,  and  then  its 
flight  being  both  rajnd  and  direct  and  its  wings  long 
and  pointed,  they  may  mistake  it  for  an  owl." 

"Can  it  hoot  like  an  Owl?"  said  Nat.     "The  Bats 


h'n^'i 


400 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


'  !■ 


I 


.^;JX.^  .._.. 


I've  seen  never  make  a  scrap  of  noise ;  the  first  thing 
you  know  they  seem  close  to  you  and  before  you  can 
Avinlc  they  have  gone,  and  daddy  says  tliey  will  never 
touch  you  or  claw  your  hair,  as  Rod  says  they  do." 

"  You  are  right;  the  flight  of  a  Bat  is  silent.  See  if 
you  can  tell  me  why." 

"I  can,"  said  Dodo,  whose  eyes  were  sparkling  and 
dancing  as  they  always  did  when  she  thought  of  an 
answer  almost  before  a  question  was  asked.  "  You  said 
a  Nightliawk  made  a  noise  because  tlie  wind  blew 
through  its  wing  quills  when  it  dropped,  just  like  when 
I  blow  on  my  little  comb  and  it  whistles,  and  a  Bat  has 
only  skin  wings  with  no  feathers  to  whistle  with !  " 

"  The  exact  reason  —  a  stringless  violin  makes  no 
sound.  But  what  shall  we  do  with  our  Little  Brown 
Bat?  Suppose  I  take  him  back  to  the  root  cellar  and 
see  if  he  will  hang  himself  up  and  go  to  sleep  again." 

"Oh,  yes  I"  said  Dodo;  "and  then  by  and  bye  when 
lie  is  all  aired  Rap  can  see  him." 

T^  TT*  *  'I*  ^F 

"  Did  he  hang  up  again?"  the  children  asked  eagerly 
when  the  Doctor  returned. 

"  He  flew  about  a  few  moments  and  then  disappeared 
in  a  dark  corner.  When  Rod  brought  a  lantern,  we 
found  five  others  all  hanging  to  the  roof,  like  so  many 
cocoons  in  a  row.  Their  eyes  were  shut  and  they 
sliowed  no  signs  of  life,  but  1  could  tell  our  friend 
from  the  others  because  he  was  breathing  quickly  and 
shifted  his  position  when  the  lantern  flashed  on  him. 
So  by  and  bye  you  can  all  go  and  see  how  Batville 
looks  in  winter." 

"  It  will  be  nice  to  go  back  to  camp  again,"  said  Nat, 


he  first  thing 
ifore  you  can 
ey  will  never 
ya  tliey  do." 
silent.     See  if 

sparkling  and 
houolit  of  ail 


1. 


le 


"  You  said 
wind   blew 


jUst  like  when 
and  a  Bat  has 
le  with ! " 
lin  makes  no 

Little  Brown 
I'oot  cellar  and 
leep  again." 

and  bye  when 

asked  eagerly 

3n  disappeared 
a  lantern,  we 
,  like  so  many 
ihut  and  they 
ell  our  friend 
ig  quickly  and 
ashed  on  him. 
I  how  Batville 

fain,"  said  Nat, 


FliOM  MOLETOWN   TO  BATVILLE 


401 


after  a  pause,  "  but  what  shall  we  do  for  stories  ?  The 
pictures  are  almost  used  up,  and  we  have  climbed  to 
the  top  branch  of  the  tree,  and  by  and  bye  it  will  be 
too  warm  for  a  campfire." 

"  Bless  me !  "  exclaimed  the  Doctor,  "  how  sad  you 
are.  One  would  think  you  had  the  knowledge  of  the 
whole  world  to  carry.  You  have  only  made  a  little 
fluttering  excursion  in  this  wonderful  tree,  groping 
your  way  like  a  Bat  in  a  strange  garret ;  now  you  can 
begin  at  the  root  again  and  stop  to  rest  on  any  branch 
that  pleases  you,  reading  delightful  books  on  the  way. 
Then,  as  soon  as  Nature  opens  her  door  again,  the  door 
of  Camp  Outdoors,  you  can  use  Camp  Saturday  for  a 
nmseum,  a  place  where  you  may  bring  your  treasures, 
—  cocoons,  snake  skins,  twigs,  stones,  mosses,  —  .all  with- 
out let  or  hindrance. 

"  Speaking  of  museums,  you  have  been  so  good  while 
you  have  been  ill,  and  obeyed  about  not  popping  your 
heads  out  of  windows  or  doors,  that  I  will  tell  you  a 
secret  —  a  great  surprise! 

"  Dear,  don't  choke  me  !  Dodo,  you  know  I  told  you 
tliat  you  mustn't  hug  any  one  until  you  took  the  stock- 
ings off  your  arms,  and  turned  from  a  Manatee  back  to 
a  little  girl. 

"  The  secret  is  this !  Early  in  March,  when  the  days 
grow  a  little  longer,  your  father  and  I  expect  to  have  a 
party,  and  your  mother,  Olive,  Rap,  Nat,  and  yourself 
are  to  be  the  guests.  We  are  going  to  New  Yoik  to 
spend  tlie  night  at  a  hotel,  and  visit  the  Natural  History 
Museum,  and  also  to  see  a  few  four-footed  Americans 
that  live  in  the  Park.  I  know  that  you  often  visited 
both  tliese  places  when  you  lived  in   the  city,  but  I  am 

2  I) 


402 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMElilCANS 


.'.    II,:       ■''-"     -■ 


'  -i-J 


,j;^ 


sure  you  feel  a  different  interest  in  your  four-footed 
countrymen  since  you  have  climbed  their  Family  Tree." 

"  I  do  already,  Uncle  Roy,"  said  Dodo.  "  I  used  to 
look  at  the  stuffed  skins,  but  they  seemed  dead,  far- 
away beasts,  like  the  Lions  and  Tigers.  Now  they  are 
real  people,  just  like  Quick  and  Mr.  Wolf." 

"  Oh,  how  jolly  it  will  be  taking  Rap  around ! "  said 
Nat ;  "  and  then,  if  we  go  to  a  hotel,  we  can  have  striped 
ice  cream  and  ride  in  an  elevator !  For,  do  you  know, 
Uncle  Roy,  I've  told  Rap  about  them,  but  I  don't  think 
he  really  believes  thiit  elevators  are  real  things." 


jr  four-footed 
Family  Tree." 
.  "I  used  to 
led  dead,  fai- 
Now  they  are 
• 

around ! "  said 
111  have  striped 
do  you  know, 
■j  I  don't  think 
hings." 


XXIX 


A  FOUR-FOOTED  DANCE 


FORE  the  children  liad  tired  of 
Camp  Saturday,  or  the  snow  had 
quite  disappeared  from  the  north 
side  of  the  stone  fences,  it  was 
March,  and  that  part  of  the  month 
when  the  sun  rises  and  goes  to 
bed  promptly  at  six  o'clock. 
The  time  of  the  year  when  he- 
paticas,  lodging  in  the  leaf  mould 
of  sheltered  banks,  are  unfurling 
their  petals,  when  the  brown  carpet  of  the  woods  is 
fragrant  and  rosy  with  arbutus  flowers,  and  tufts  of 
broad  green  leaves  dot  the  marshes  and  low  meadows. 
The  children  were  quite  well  again,  school  kindly  took 
a  double  holiday  to  have  a  smoky  furnace  cured,  and 
so  all  the  family  at  Orchard  Farm,  except  Mammy  Bun 
and  Rod,  started  on  their  excursion  to  New  York. 
Now  in  some  respects  excursions  are  very  much  Jilike : 
people  see,  hear,  and  eat  a  great  deal  more  than  is  good 
for  them,  and  are  consequently  usually  rather  tired  and 
peevish  for  several  days  afterward.  This  excursion, 
however,  was  of  a  different  sort;  it  had  only  one  motive, 
and  that  was  to  see  in  two  days  as  many  of  the  four- 
footed  Americans  as  the  city  had  to  show. 

#8 


■]ft' 

4 


404 


FO Uli-FOO  TED  AMEliWA Nti 


When  they  were  on  the  cars,  Mr.  lilake  said  incident- 
ally that  he  was  going  to  give  Olive  something  as  a 
reward  for  having  been  so  patient  with  Nat  and  Dodo 
and  their  perpetual  questions,  but  added  that  he  was 
quite  sure  that  they  could  never  imagine  what  tlie  gift 
was  to  be. 

"  A  big  box  of  books,"  ventured  Rap.  ' 

"  A  new  album  to  paste  her  pressed  flowers  iiT," 
gubssed  Dodo,  "because  the  old  one  is  crammed  full." 

"No,  something  bigger  than  those,  —  a  nice  pony  cart 
so  that  she  can  drive  herself  anywhere  she  likes,"  said 
Nat,  earnestly. 

"  Wrong,"  said  Mr.  Blake.  "  I  know  how  fond  you 
all  are  of  birds  and  their  nests,  of  beasts  and  fl(»\vers  and 
bugs,  so  I  tliought  you  would  like  to  make  a  collection 
of  such  things  as  you  iind  about  the  farm,  and  let  the 
village  children  see  and  enjoy  them  also.  As  I  know 
that  Olive  may  be  trusted  with  it,  I  am  going  to  buy 
her  a  fine  new  gun  so  that  she  may  slioot  all  these  things 
for  you." 

"  Why,  daddy,  I'm  perfectly  astonished !  "  cried  Dodo, 
turning  red  and  fairly  bristling  witli  indignation.  "Do 
you  want  to  turn  our  Olive  into  a  wicked  Hunting 
Wolf,  and  just  wlien  we've  coaxed  tlie  Wood  boys  to 
stop  sliooting  Meadowlarks  and  made  them  promise  not 
to  t  «l:e  but  one  egg  out  of  each  nest  if  tliey  mu»t  go 
collecting?" 

"Don't  worry.  Dodo,"  siiid  Olive,  laugliing;  "for 
lliough  I  have  not  tlie  least  idea  about  the  pres(!nt,  1  can 
tell  by  the  twinkle  in  Uncle  Jack's  eyes  that  it  is  some 
very  harmless,  nice  sort  of  gun  he  means." 

"  Shall  we  have  striped  ice  cream  I'o"  lunch  or  dinner?" 


A    FOUR-FOOTED  DANCE 


405 


laid  iucident- 
ne thing  as  a 
at  and  Dodo 
that  he  was 
^vhat  the  gift 


flowers  iiT," 
iinned  full." 
lice  pony  cart 
le  likes,"  said 

tiow  fond  you 
id  flowers  and 
e  a  collection 
n,  and  let  the 
As  I  know 
going  to  buy 
11  these  things 

"  cried  Dodo, 
piation.  "Do 
;ked  Hunting 
^Vood  boys  to 
n  promise  not 

they  must  go 

ugliing;    "for 

present,  1  I'iin 

hat  it  is  some 

ch  or  dinner?" 


asked  Dodo,  suddenly  changing  the  subject  as  they  left 
the  cars,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blake  going  down  town,  and  the 
others  up,  iu  Dr.  Roy's  charge. 

"  No  ice  cream  or  sweeties  at  all  to-day,"  the  Doctor 
said  firmly,  "  if  you  wish  to  go  tramping  about  to  see 
the  animals.  First,  we  will  go  to  the  Park  and  see  the 
live  Grizzly  and  Polar  Bears  in  their  den,  and  I  can 
promise  you  a  peep  at  Coyotes,  Timber  Wolves,  and 
Foxes,  besides  the  Puma  and  the  Ocelot.  I  know  thjit 
you  will  thiidc  that  they  look  very  unhappy  in  their 
cages,  and  they  are  not  nearly  as  comfortable  as  they 
will  be  when  they  go  to  live  in  tiie  Zoological  Park." 

"•  Oil,  there  is  a  donkey  I  "  shouted  Nat.  "  I  wonder 
if  it  is  the  same  one  that  we  used  to  ride  when  we  lived 
here  in  the  city?  May  Rap  have  a  ride  now,  and  then 
Dodo  and  I?" 

"  Why,  uncle  I  I  do  believe  you've  brought  a  bag  of 
dimes  and  qnartei-s  on  [)urpose,"  said  Dodo,  as  the  Doctor 
took  the  necessary  money  for  three  rides  from  a  well-filled 
pouch. 

"  I  am  not  an  old  man  and  more  or  less  wise,  without 
knowing  that  plenty  of  small  change  is  a  must-he,,  if 
you  wish  the  wheels  of  an  excursion  to  move  smoothly 
and  not  jolt  all  the  pleasure  out  of  it,"  said  the  Doctor, 
pocketing  his  bag  again. 

j|j  ^M  ^U  j^  ^U 

'I'hat  night  when  the  Orchard  Farm  family  met  at  a 
hotel  that  overlooked  one  of  tlio  Park  entrances,  the 
lirst  question  the  (children  asked  was,  —  "lias  Olive's 
gun  come  ?  " 

"  Yes,  here  it  is,"  said  Mr.  lUake,  leading  the  way  to 
a  table  that  was  covered  with  brown  paper  parcels  and 


406 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERTCANS 


/ 


l.     ■\ 


a  mass  of  packing  material.  "  Here  is  a  gun,  here  are 
the  bullets,  and  the  trigger  goes  so  —  snap  !  " 

"It  is  a  beautiful  camera!"  exclaimed  Olive  in 
delight,  sitting  down  by  the  table  in  a  state  of  surprise 
and  bewilderment.  ''A  real  camera,  with  legs  to  stand 
it  on,  as  well  .as  a  handle  to  carry  it  by,  and  it  holds 
glass  plates  or  rolls  of  film,  whichever  you  prefer,  — 
not  one  of  those  miserable  little  trick  boxes  that  was 
all  thiit  I  ever  expected  to  buy  for  myself." 

"  Yes,  and  see  all  the  trays  and  bottles  and  things,  so 
that  you  can  develop  and  print  your  own  pictures,'" 
said  the  Doctor,  growing  enthusiastic  as  he  looked, 
"  with  yards  of  lubber  tubing  to  work  the  shutter  so 
that  you  can  set  the  box  on  a  fence,  hide  behind  a  tree, 
and  catch  snap  shots  of  a  Robin  building  his  nest  or  a 
Squirrel  scampering  by.  How  would  you  like  to  go 
into  partnership  with  me,  daughter?  For  I  think  that 
we  two  can  make  a  set  of  lantern  slides  tliat  will  o[)en 
the  eyes  of  the  village  children  to  wild  things  near  home. 
What !  supper  time  already?" 

Then  they  all  went  down  in  the  elevator  to  the 
dining-room,  enjoying  liap's  surprise  at  everything  he 
saw. 

"  r  don't  like  riding  <1nwn^''  he  confessed;  "it  makes 
you  feel  all  loose  inside,  just  like  when  you've  found  a 
hornet's  nest  in  an  old  tree  and  go  to  get  down  quick 
and  have  to  slide  because  there  aren't  many  branches." 

The  next  day  the  children  went  to  the  Aruseum  of 
Natural  History,  nnd  as  they  eniered  the  great  doors 
and  were  greetcMl  by  Tij),  the  elephant  of  cir(Mis  fame, 
Dodo  said:  "  Where  shall  we  begin?  If  we  begin  down- 
stairs, I  am  sure  we  sliall  never  get  to  the  top  in  one 


U 


A   FOUIi-FOOTED  DANCE 


407 


day,  and  if  we  begin  vip  top,  we  shall  never  get  down 
again  before  dark.  Who  lives  on  the  very  top  floor, 
Uncle  Roy?" 

"  Some  of  the  Wise  Men  are  there  !  " 

"  The  Wise  Men  that  count  teeth  and  claws  and  say 
whether  the  little  fur  beasts  that  are  white  in  winter 
moult  all  over  or  only  change  the  color  of  their  hair?" 
asked  Rap. 

''The  very  same." 

"  Don't  let's  go  there,  then,"  wliispered  Dodo  to  Nat, 
"  because  if  they  are  so  wise,  they  would  be  sure  to  know 
that  it  is  time  "or  another  of  my  teeth  to  be  shed,  and 
they  might  want  it  pulled  out  now  I  AVhat  is  next  to 
the  top?"  she  asked  the  Doctor  hastily. 

"TJones  and  stones  and  shells,  but  after  you  have  been 
introduced  to  the  Four-footed  Americans  in  Mammal 
Hall,  I  will  take  yon  wliere  you  can  meet  all  the  home 
l)irds  of  the  farm,  the  marshes,  and  the  shore,  beside 
many  others  that  live  within  iifty  miles  hereabouts. 
For  you  see  these  Wise  Men,  in  addition  to  studying 
dry  bones,  understand  the  needs  of  llesh-and-blood 
children,  and  know  what  will  interest  them  the  most  in 
their  winged  and  four-footed  brothers,  and  so  they  have 
arranged  them  in  a  way  tiuit  they  may  be  easily  found." 

"•Oh!  oh  I "  exclaimed  Dodo  as  they  wandered  into 
the  liall  where  the  Miimmals  live,  "here  are  Wood- 
chucks  thiit  look  as  if  they  had  just  come  from  our 
rocky  pasture  and  Inonght  a  piece  of  it  with  them!" 

"See  this!"  said  Rap,  hopping  toward  the  bit  of 
mossy  woods  that  slu^ltcicd  a  Moose  family. 

"Here  nw  the  Two  Kings!"  criccl  Nat,  rnnning 
toward  the  stretch  of  prairie  where  a  magnificent  Bison 


w 


sM  n 


408 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


had  stopped  in  his  grazing  and  was  eying  a  sand-colored 
rattlesnake. 

"  Hush  !  not  so  loud  !  "  cautioned  Mr.  Blake,  "  or  you 
will  have  the  Indians  downstairs  breaking  out  of  their 
glass  cases  and  challenging  you." 

Luncheon  had  little  attraction  for  the  children  that 
day,  and  late  afternoon  found  them  still  lingering.  It 
was  growing  dusky  when  the  Doctor  caught  Dodo  by 
the  hand,  saying,  "  We  must  go  now  or  we  shall  be 
shut  in." 

"  I  don't  think  I  should  quite  like  to  stay  here  in  the 
dark,"  she  said,  kissing  her  hand  to  a  Red  Fox  as  she 
passed  him.  "  I  wonder  if  lie  is  a  Dream  Fox,  and  if 
he  ever  comes  out  of  his  case  ?  "  '^ 

#  *  *  t  * 

"If  she  only  knew,"  wliispered  the  Fox  to  the  Wild- 
cat across  the  room,  "  she  wouldn't  go  home  to-niglit." 

"Knew  what?"  asked  the  Wildcat,  without  moving 
an  eyelash  or  a  whisker. 

"  Who  are  you  that  you  do  not  know  liow,  after  dark 
on  Marcli  21,  wo  fourfoots  all  come  out  of  our  cases  and 
hold  our  spring  dance  ?  "         . 

"I  didn't  know  it,"  replied  the  Wildcat,  "because 
last  year  I  did  not  live  in  a  case ;  I  liad  a  house  in  a 
hollow  tree,  a  mate,  and  three  kittens." 

"  All !  I  understand,"  said  the  Fox,  asking  no  more 
questions  out  of  respect  to  the  Cat's  feelings.  "  I  will 
explain.  There  is  an  endless  oval  path  in  the  sky  that 
the  sun  walks  round  once  every  year.  Spring  lives  at 
one  turn  of  the  path,  and  Autunni  at  the  other,  with 
Winter  and  Sunnnei'  hidl'-way  Ixitween.  Now  on  Marcli 
21  the  sun  always  reaches  the  spot  where   Spring  lives 


A   FOUR-FOOTED  DANCE 


409 


land-colored 

ike, "  or  you 
out  of  their 

hildreu  that 
ngering.  It 
;ht  Dodo  by 
we  shall  be 

y  here  in  the 
I  Fox  as  she 
t  Fox,  and  if 


to  tlie  Wild- 
e  to-night." 
hont  moving 

>\v,  after  dark 
our  cases  and 

jat,  "because 
a  house  in  a 

cing  no  more 
iKvs.     "  I  will 

tlie  sky  that 
pring  lives  at 
10  other,  with 
^ow  on  March 

Spring  lives 


and  steps  over  into  her  garden,  walking  through  it  until 
he  readies  Summer;  so,  on  the  evening  of  that  day, 
we  fourfoots  may  leave  our  prisons  and  dance  all  night 
in  honor  of  the  season." 

"  How  do  you  know  all  this,  and  who  planned  the 
dance  ?  "  questioned  the  Wildcat. 

"The  Wise  Men  have  pictures  of  the  sun's  pathway 
in  their  books,  and  I  know  it  and  I  planned  the  dance, 
because  I  am  a  Dream  Fox  !  "  he  whispered.  "  When  it 
is  quite  dark  and  every  one  has  gone  home  but  the 
night  watchman,  who  will  not  tell  tales  that  no  one 
would  believe,  the  dance  will  begin ! " 

•  *      .       ♦  #  * 

"  How  good  one  of  those  Rabbits  will  taste,"  said  the 
Wildcat  a  few  hours  later.  "It  is  a  very  long  time 
since  I  ate  fresh  meat." 

"What  are  you  saying?"  snapped  the  Fox.  "Sup- 
pose every  one  of  us  ate  what  he  wished,  what  would 
the  Wise  INIen  say  in  the  morning  when  they  found  half 
of  the  cases  empty?" 

"See,  the  Possum  and  the  Coon  are  out  already  and 
drawing  up  the  window  shades.  Onr  friend  the  Moon 
is  up;  that  is  the  signal.  Now  the  Bison,  Moose,  and 
Elk  are  starting;  they  always  take  the  lead  in  tlie 
social  affairs  of  Four-footed  Americans." 

The  larger  animals  soon  took  their  places,  two  by  two, 
ni  tlie  entrance  hall.  The  Bison  Ihst,  with  the  Moose, 
Klk,  (^iiibou,  AnuM-ican  Deer,  and  Antelope  behind. 
'V\u\  iNfusk  Ox,  Bighorn,  and  Mountain  (ioat  presently 
sauntered  along  together,  complaining  of  the  heat. 
Meanwhile,  the  Wolves,  Foxes,  jiud  various  Cats  had 
an  argument  about  the  right  of  way,  the  l*uma  so  far 


410 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


forgetting  himself  as  to  raise  a  heavy  paw  and  box  the 
ears  of  the  biggest  Timber  Wolf,  and  the  Dream  Fox 
was  obliged  to  interfere  to  prevent  a  free  fight. 

The  Rabbits,  Squirrels,  and  little  Gnawers  kejjt  get- 
ting under  the  feet  of  the  others,  until  the  Porcupine, 
as  Marshal  of  his  Order,  undertook  to  prod  them  into 
place,  using  his  prickly  tail  as  a  weapon.  As  for  the 
Rats  and  Mice,  it  was  impossible  to  make  them  walk  in 
pairs,  so  they  scrambled  along  to  suit  themselves,  the 
Jumping  Mice  and  Kangaroo  Rats  aloue  keeping  in 
pairs  and  hopping  along  hand  in  hand. 

It  was  fully  nine  o'clock  wlien  all  were  ready,  and  a 
belated  street  band  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  avenue 
began  to  play  "Dancing  in  the  Barn."  '* 

"  How  lucky !  "  said  the  Dream  Fox.  "  It  is  nice  to 
hiive  music  to  begin  by,  but  after  a  little  while  it 
doesn't  matter,  for  every  one  dances  his  own  way. 

"Now!  One,  two,  tliree,  four,  —  face  to  face,  skip 
—  hop !  Across  the  hall,  and  upstairs  to  the  very  top, 
and  down  again." 

The  Skunks  immediately  skipped  forward,  leading 
the  way  as  an  advance  guard,  waving  their  tails  over 
their  heads,  the  procession  following  merrily.  Strange 
to  say,  however,  all  this  multitude  of  prancing  hoofs 
and  ])aws  made  no  sound. 

"Why  didn't  they  wait  for  us?"  gasped  a  Walrus, 
who  liad  been  ;dl  this  time  trying  to  get  out  of  his  case, 
to  a  Seal,  wlio  was  fanning  liiniself  with  liis  Mip[)ers. 

"  VVliat  good  wojdd  thiit  do  ?  "  sai«l  t  he  Sea  liion  ;  "  we 
eouhln't  climb  up  all  tlios(!  staii's  and  g(»t  down  again 
before  daylight.  Suppose  we  sli(U(  (h)wn  this  lliglit  to 
the  basement;    perhiips   we   can   lind  some   water  and 


A  FOUR-FOOTED  DANCE 


411 


then  we  can  go  in  swimming."  Then  they  all  flopped 
off;  and  you  would  have  expected  them  to  leave  great 
wavy  marks  in  the  dust  on  the  floor,  but  they  did  not. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  procession  came  downstairs 
again  and  ended  by  an  elaborate  breakdown,  danced  by 
the  Polar,  Barren  Ground,  Black,  and  Grizzly  Bears; 
tliis  was  followed  by  a  grand  chain,  liands  all  round. 
Tiien  the  animals  were  allowed  to  amuse  themselves 
until  the  signal  "  back  to  cases  "  should  be  given. 

"It  does  not  seem  much  like  spring,"  said  the  Moose 
to  the  Caribou.  "  I'm  wearing  my  old  horns  yet,  and 
I  do  not  see  a  single  green  leaf." 

"  Hush  ! "  said  the  Dream  Fox.  "  The  Wise  Men  say 
it  is  spring." 

Meanwhile,  the  Foxes  and  the  Civet  Cats  were  roam- 
ing around  the  bird  rooms  trying  to  coax  the  fat  Ducks 
and  Grouse  to  come  for  a  walk.  But  the  birds  seemed 
neither  to  see  nor  hear  them,  while  the  Weasels  and 
Minks  licked  their  lips,  longingly  but  vainly,  as  they 
gazed  at  the  trays  of  eggs. 

The  Bats  tried  to  hang  themselves  up  in  dark  cor- 
ners, but  found  the  ceiling  too  smooth;  and  the  Wood- 
chucks  and  Beavers  who  essayed  to  burrow  holes  in  the 
floor  were  equally  unsuccessful.  The  Possums  and 
Coons  went  down  to  the  wood  room  and  tried  to  reach 
some  fine  tree-trunks  in  search  of  likel}'^  holes  for  homes; 
while  the  Mountiiin  (loatand  Bighorn  [>ractised  mountain 
climbing  by  running  np  and  sliding  down  the  bannisters ; 
and  the  I^its  and  Mlc^e  dulled  their  teeth  in  trying  to 
gnaw  holes  in  the  iron  doors. 

During  this  time,  the  Walrus,  Sea  Lion,  and  Seal, 
who  had  flopped  easily  enough  f/y/<'/tstairs,  were  mak- 


"  •<    M   ■■ 


i||. 


l* 


!  r-i- 


i  I  It- 


412 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


ing  frantic  efforts  to  haul  tliemselves  up  again.  For, 
at  the  first  corner,  tlie  Walrus  had  come  face  to  face 
with  one  of  his  enemies  from  the  North,  an  Eskimo 
chief,  harpoon  in  hand,  ready  to  charge,  while  close  by 
was  a  kyack,  or  hunting  canoe,  covered  with  the  skin 
of,  perhaps,  the  Walrus'  own  brother. 

The  night  wore  on;  fog  had  settled  over  the  city, 
hiding  the  streets  and  the  moon  —  the  fog  of  an  early 
spring  morning. 

"  How  I  should  like  to  go  out  and  breathe  that  wet 
air ! "  said  the  Moose,  wistfully,  flapping  his  big  ears. 
"Me,  too,"  sighed  the  Beaver,  sitting  up  to  listen. 
"What  was  that?"  ii 

"  Toot  — ^  toot  —  t-o-o-t !  "  shrieked  a  whistle  from  the 
long-legged  railroad  on  the  avenue. 

"  Hark !  "  bellowed  the  Bison,  his  nostrils  quivering, 
as  he  panted  with  fear.  "  Hark  !  do  you  hear  that  cry, 
the  voice  of  the  Iron  Horse  ?  It  was  such  a  cry  that 
gave  the  signal  for  my  exile  from  the  plains.  Quick ! 
Back  to  your  places,  Four-footed  Americans !  " 

The  fog  lifted  as  the  sun  rose,  and  the  Song  Sparrow 
warbled  merrily  in  the  Park,  wiiile  no  one  would  have 
known  that  the  beasts  in  the  Museum  had  ever  left  the 
cases,  unless  the  Dream  Fox  had  whispered  it  to  them. 

*  ¥it  *  M^  * 

The  morning  after  their  return  from  the  excursion, 
Dodo  and  Nat  wore  out  bright  and  early  to  discover 
what  had  l»api)encd  in  their  absence. 

"It  is  spring  even  if  the  wind  does  blow,"  laughed 
Dodo,  holding  her  baton.  "Do  look  at  the  crocuses  on 
the  lawn." 

"  Yes,  it's  spring,  shor  'nuff !  "  exclaimed  Rod,  coming 


A  FOUR-FOOTED  DANCE 


413 


T'dm. 


For, 
ice  to  face 
ail  Eskimo 
le  close  by 
h  the  skin 

r  the  city, 
)£  an  early 

le  that  wet 
is  big  ears. 
)  to   listen. 

le  from  the 

J  quivering, 
ar  that  cry, 
I  a  cry  that 
is.     Quick ! 

iig  Sparrow 
would  have 
ver  left  the 

it  to  them. 
t 
;  excursion, 

to  discover 

\v,"  laughed 
crocuses  on 


from  the  kitchen  door.  "I've  got  suthin'  you  won't 
like  to  hear,  to  tell  yer,  and  suthin'  yer  will  like,  to 
show  yer,  if  yer  come  right  down  to  the  barns." 

"  Mother !  Daddy !  Uncle  ! "  called  Dodo,  rushing 
into  the  house  a  few  moments  later.  "What  do  you 
think  Billy  Coon  has  done  but  run  away,  and  Rod  says 
he  won't  come  back,  because  it's  spring  and  he's  gone  to 
the  woods  to  find  a  mate  and  hire  a  house.  What  else 
do  you  think  has  happened  too?  I  can't  wait  to  give 
you  three  guesses.  Dais}'^  has  a  beautiful  little  calf,  and 
it's  a  lovely  mousy  color,  with  great  eyes  like  a  Deer. 
Please  may  I  name  her  Clover?  Rod  says  if  she  lives 
to  grow  up,  she  will  be  a  fine  cow  and  give  as  buttery 
milk  as  Daisy.  Yes  ?  Then  I'll  go  back  right  away 
and  tell  her  what  her  name  is,"  and  Dodo  skipped  down 
the  walk,  singing,  "  M  —  mammals ;  m  —  milk!  " 


iod,  coming 


,i:'i 


]W 


hi:'' 


tj  ;  ■■■- 


\ 

>    , 

1          ; 

' 

8, 

1 
f 

■'  ^. 

/ 
\ 

■{ 

1 

PC 

hi 
In 
li 
at 

V 

[ADDER   FOR  CLIMBING  THE  FAMILY  TREE 
OF  THE  NORTH   AMERICAN    MAMMALS 


-•o><«c 


ORDER  OF   POUCHED   MAMMALS 

Marsupialia 

Family  Didelphia 

(.Number  of  North  Americnn  Species,  One) 

The  females  of  this  family  carry 
their  young,  when  first  born,  in  a 
pouch  on  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen.  They  have  four 
handlike  feet,  and  a  tail  which  is  used  like  a  hand  (pre- 
hen-sile,  the  Wise  Men  call  this  sort  of  tail).  These  animals 
live  on  the  ground  and  in  trees.  They  are  both  flesh,  fruit, 
and  insect  eaters. 

Virginia  Opossum Dide/phis  virginiana. 

Length  of  body,  17  inches  ;  tail,  11-12  inches. 


ORDER  OF  SEA  COWS 
Sirenia 

(Number  of  North  American  Species,  Two) 

Family  of  Manatees 
Manatidae 

(Number  of  North  A  inerlnan  Specips,  One) 

Clumsy  animals  of  southern  rivers,  feeding  upon  water 
plants.  * 

American  Manatee Manafus  americanus. 

Length,  8-10  feet. 
416 


:'lF-!  f 


416 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMEltlGANS 


IS  ,     I 


ORDER  OF  WHALES,   PORPOISES,   DOLPHINS 

Cetacea 

(From  Cetus  and  Ketos,  the  Latin  and  Greek  words  for 
Whale,  — Whale  meaning  roller.)  All  of  this  order  live  on 
animal  food  and  are  helpless  on  land.  One  species,  the 
Killer  Whale,  eats  other  warm-blooded  animals. 


^, 


Family  of  Tkue  Whales 
Balaenidae 

(Number  of  North  American  Species,  Seventeen) 

Has  plates  of  baleen,  the  horny  fibre  known  as  whale- 
bone, growing  from  its  palate.     Feeds  on  Sea  mollusks. 

Bowhead  Whale Balcena  mysticetus. 

Length,  45-50  feet. 

Finback  Whale Ba/cBnoptera  muscufus. 

Length,  65-70  feet. 

Family  of  Sperm  Whales 
PhyseteridaB 

(Number  of  Nortli  American  Species,  Two) 

This  family  lives  on  squids  and  cuttlefish,  among  other 
things.  It  yields  the  perfume  called  ambergris.  Sperma- 
ceti, a  lardy  substance  used  in  making  candles,  is  found  in 
a  great  cavity  in  the  skull.  The  fat  blubber,  which  covers 
the  body  under  the  skin,  making  it  easy  for  the  Whale  to 
float,  yields  sperm  oil. 

Cachelot,  or  Common  Sperm  Whale  .    Physeter  macrocephalus. 

Length,  65-(W  feet. 

Family  of  Dolviiins 

Delphinidae  \   . 

(Number  of  Nortli  AmoHenn  Species,  Twenty-eipht) 

Common  Porpoise Phocasna  phoccBna. 

Length,  4J  feet. 


LADDEIi 


417 


(Porpoise  means  Sea  Hog,  a  name  relating  to  the  clumsy- 
shape  and  small  pigliko  yes  of  the  animal.) 

Dolphin  .     .     »    I Lagenorhynchus  acutus. 

Lt'iif^th,  10-16  feet. 


tera  musculus. 


ORDER   OF  HOOFED  QUADRUPEDS 
Ungulata 
Ground  animals,  living  chietty  on  vegetable  diet,  a  few 
sometimes  taking  animal  food. 

Division  I 

(None  are  imtivt's  lierel 

Toes  one,  three,  or  five,  ending  in  hoofs.  The  Rhinoceros 
belongs  here  ;  also  the  Horse  and  Ass,  both  having  one  toe, 
turned  into  a  broad  hoof.  At  the  present  day  we  have  no 
native  wild  horses,  those  that  rove  the  plains  being  the  chil- 
dren of  emigrants. 

Division  II 

Hoofed  toes,  even,  two  or  four.  Horns,  when  present,  in 
pairs. 

Omnivora 

Eaters  of  both  animal  and  vegetable  food. 

Family  of  rKccARiES 
Dicotylidae 

(Number  of  North  Amorican  Species,  Two) 

Front  foot  of  four  toes,  like  the  domestic  pig ;  three  toes 

on  hind  foot. 

Collared  Peccary Dicotyles  angulatus. 

Length,  .3  feet. 

B 
Ruminantia 

Cud-chewing  vegetable  eaters. 
2e 


r^  <i 


418  FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 

\  Dkku  Family 
Cervidae 

(XumbiT  of  North  Aiiioiican  Spocios,  Nine) 

Males  (and  in  one  species  tlie  females)  having  antlers  that 
are  shed  annually. 

American  Deer Dorce/aphus  americanus. 

Height  at  shoulder,  3  feet. 

Elk  or  Wapiti Cervus  canadensis. 

Height  at  shoulder,  o  feet. 

Moose  (Elk  of  Europe) A/ces  alces. 

Height  at  shoulder,  ((  feet. 

Caribou  or  Reindeer Rangifer  caribou. 

Height  at  shoulder,  4  feet. 

r        '  ^' 

Antkloi'K  lAMiry 

Antilocapridae 

(NiimbiTofNortli  Aiiu'ricaii  species,  (tiR') 

Nearly  related  to  the  Jieef  Family,  but  having  pronged 
horns,  shed  annually. 

Pronghorn,  Prong-horned  Antelope .     .    Anti/ocapra  amen'cana. 

Height  at  shoulder,  iJ  feet. 

Bkkk  «>u  Mkat  Family 
Bovidse 

(Nimilter  of  North  Ainei-lcaii  Hpi'des,  Five) 

All  the  memhors  of  this  family  are  good  for  food.  Both 
males  and  females  hii\o,  hollow  horns  without  branches, 
which  are  never  shed.  The  horns  of  tln^  males  are  gen- 
erally very  much  larger  than  those  ol"  the  females. 

Bighorn  or  Mountain  Sheep Oyis  cervina, 

llcighl,  ill  shoulder,  .'5^  feet. 

Mountain  Goat Oreamnos  montana. 

Ui'ight  at  shoulder,  2^  feet. 


g  antlers  that 


I  amencanus. 


tdensis. 


ribou. 


ii 


viiig  pronged 


t  americana. 


•  food.  T^oth 
lilt  braiiclu's, 
lies  ar(»  gen- 
tles. 

'ifina. 


7S  montana. 


LADDER  419 

Musk  Ox  (really  a  big  sheep)      ....    O^ibos  moschatus. 

Height  jit  shoulder,  4|  feet. 

Males  and  females  with  horns  nearly  efjual  in  size. 

American  Bison,  or  Buffalo Bison  bison. 

Height  at  sliDulder,  5^-0  feet. 

^      .■  ^  II 

THE  ORDER  OF  GNAWERS 

Rodentia 

The  Invgest  and  most  widely  distributed  group  of  Mam- 
mals, found  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  jNIore  than  nine 
hundred  have  been  named,  and  new  ones  are  constantly 
being  found. 

These  gnawers  are  mostly  small  animals,  with  four  strong 
cutting  teeth,  living  on  or  under  the  surface  of  the  ground 
or  in  trees,  a  few  being  expert  swimmers.  They  are  chietiy 
vegetable  eaters,  though  a  few  prefer  animal  food. 

Family  of  Squirrels 
Sciuridae 

(Mori!  than  Slxly  Norlli  Aiiu'iican  Siieclos) 

Sciurus  and  Sciuropterus  —  Tree  Squirrels 

Meaning  those  who  "  sit  in  the  shadow  of  the  tail."  Good- 
sized  ears,  climbing  feet,  the  front  having  four  and  the  back 
live  shiU'p  long  claws.  Sometimes  having  ])ouched  cheeks 
for  carrying  food,  and,  usually,  long,  ])lnmy  tails. 

Flying  Squirrel Sciuropterus  volans. 

Length  of  body,  i\\  iiichcs  ;  tail,  '»  iiiclM-s. 

Red  Squirrel Sciurus  hudsonicus. 

lii'iiglh  of  body,  7,^  inches;  tail,  (U  inches. 

Gray  Squirrel Sciurus  carolinensis  leucotis. 

liength  of  body,  ItlJ  inches  ;  tail,  lUJ  inches. 

Fox  Squirrel Sciurus  niger  cinereus. 

Length  of  body,  i;!  inches;  tail,  1.']^  Inclu'H. 


-rr  £.; 


420 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


\ 

i^ 


Tamias  —  Ground  Squirrels  —  Chipmunks 
Snialler  and  lighter  than  the  true  s(]^uii-i-els,  with  the  back 
striped. 

Chipmunk Tamias  striatus. 

Length  of  body,  (5  inches  ;  tail,  i\  inches. 

Arctomys  —  Woodchucks  > 

With  heavy  body,  short  ears  and  tail ;  cheek  pouches  im- 
perfect or  none.     Gnawing  teeth  very  broad  and  strong. 

Woodchuck Arctomys  monax. 

Length  of  body,  14.^  inches  ;  tail,  7  inches. 

Cynomys  —  Prairie  Dogs 
Intermediate  in  size  between  AVoodchucks  and  Spermo- 
philes.     Siiort  ears;  small  cheek  pouches;  five  clawed  frcmt 
feet.     Live  in  burrows  in  large  communities  and  feed  on 
prairie  grass. 

Prairie  Dog Cynomys  ludovicianus. 

Length  of  body,  lo  inches;  tail,  4  inches. 

Spermophilus  -  -  Spermophiles 
liather  snmll   and  slender,  tail  variable.     Ample  cheek 
pouches  ;  four  front  toes.     l>elong  to  prairies  and  dry,  open 
plains ;  live  in  deep  burrows  and  store  up  food  for  winter  use. 

Rock  Spermophile      ....    Spermophilus  grammurus. 

Length  of  body,  lo  in('li<'s ;  tail,  U  inches. 

Striped  Spermophile.     .     .     .    Spermophilus  tridecemlineatua. 

Length  ot'  body,  7  inches;  tail,  1^  inches. 

( 

Bkavkii  Kamikv 
Castoridae 

(Nuiiilici' lit"  N'lii'lli  Aint'i'lciiii  Sin'clcs,  One) 

TTcavy  skull;  ))owerfiil  tcctli ;  strong  front  claws.     Tail 
flat  and  tongiKi-like.     Tlic  best  builder  among  Mammals. 

Beaver Castor  canadensis. 

Length  of  body.  2  feet  ;  tail.  IU  inches. 


tvith  the  back 

lias  striatus. 

s. 

k  pouclies  iin- 
iid  strong. 

omys  monax. 

es. 


and  Spernio- 
3  clawed  front 
i  and  feed  on 

ludovicianus. 

'8. 

Ample  cheek 
and  dry,  open 
for  winter  nse. 
mmurus. 

'S. 

'ecemlineatus. 


claws.     TmII 
Miinnniils. 
r  canadensis. 


LADDER  421 

Family  of  Rats  and  Mice 
Muridse 

(Nearly  Two  Hundred  Nortli  Ainerk'dn  Spocios) 

Clumsy,  thickly  furred  body ;  small  ears ;  short  tail ;  small 
feet  with  furry  soles. 

White  Lemming Dicrostonyx  torquatus. 

Length  of  body,  5  inches  ;  tail,  1  inch. 

Heavy  animal,  head  set  close  to  shoulders.  Fore  limbs 
with  four  toes  and  a  small  thumb ;  long  claws  for  scratching 
ami  digging;  five  webbed  toes  on  hind  feet;  compact  scaly 
tail;  soft  under-fnr  with  stiff  hairs  overlying  it.  Animal 
secretes  a  musky  odor,  from  which  it  takes  its  name. 

Muskrat Fiber  zibethicus. 

Length  of  body,  11 J  inches;  tail,  11  inches. 

Kats  and  mice  —  vermin.  Large  ears;  bright  eyes;  long, 
naked  tails ;  no  cheek  pouches ;  fur  soft.  Mostly  vegetable 
feeders,  but  some  eat  insects  and  occasionnlly  other  animal 
food. 

Field  Mouse Microtus  pennsylvanicus. 

Length  of  l)ody,  A\  inclies  ;  tail,  1^  inches. 

Deer  or  White-footed  Mouse  .    .     .    Peromyscus  feucopus. 

Length  of  body,  ;>|  inches ;  tail,  ;!1  inclies. 

Cotton  Rat Sigmodon  hispidus. 

Length  of  body,  (}  inches  ;  tail,  A  inches. 

Wood  or  Pack  Rat Neotoma  floridana. 

Length  of  body,  H  inches  ;  tail,  6}  inches. 

Marsh  Rat Oryzomys  palustris. 

Length  of  body,  ((  inches;  tail,  '.\\  inches, 

Ciol'lir.H    I<\\MriA' 

Geomyidae 

(Ximilirr  of  North  Amriii'iiii  Siiiclcs.  'I'wcntN  I" 'I'lilily) 

liurrowing  iinimals,  hiiving  large  cheek  pockets  that  open 
outside ;  wide  cutting  teeth ;  snuill  eyes  and  ears  ;  short  legs. 


/ 


422  FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 

Pouched,  or  Mole  Gopher Geomys  bursarius. 

Length  of  body,  8^  inches ;  tail,  3  inches. 

Gray  Pocket  Gopher Thomonys  talpoides. 

Length  of  body,  7  inches  ;  tail,  2  J  inches. 

t 

Family  of  Poiujhkd  Kats  and  Micjp:j 
Heteromyidse 

(Number  of  Xortli  AiiU'rieiin  Siici-ius,  'I'liirty  to  Forty) 

Kangaroo  Rat Perodipus  richardsoni. 

Length  of  body,  ')J  inches;  tail,  ().[  inches. 

Pocket  Mouse Perognathus  paradoxus. 

Length  of  body,  4\  inches  ;  tail,  of  inches. 

JUMIMNG    MoUSK    FaMILV 

Zapodidae 

(Nninhi'i'  of  North  Aiiiurlciiii  S|iiTii'S.  Four  to  Flvf) 

Ground  aiiiimils,  witli  long  springy  hind  legs  and  five-toetl 
feet. 

Jumping  Mouse Zapus  hudsonius. 

Length  of  body,  ;j  inches  ;  tail,  o  inches. 

VoKcupiNK  Family 
Erethizontidae 

(Number  of  North  Amcrlcim  rtpeeles,  Two) 

Of  clmnky  build;  legs  of  oven  length;  back  ooveved 
with  stout  (i[uills,  almost  liiddeu  l)y  long  hairs;  short, 
stumpy  tail.     A  vegetable  eater. 

Canada  Porcupine Erethizon  dorsatus. 

Length  of  body,  2,;^  feet ;  tail,  bj  inches. 

1*1  K  A  Family 
Ochotonidaa 

(Number  of  North  Amerieun  Spi'des,  Two) 

No  tail ;  short  ears;  legs  of  e(piiil  length.  ^ 

Pika,  Little  Chief,  or  Whistling  Hare  .    .    Ochotona  princeps. 

Length  of  body,  7|  inches;  no  tail. 


wrsarius. 
s  talpoides. 

CE 

•ty) 
'chardsoni. 

■i. 

I  paradoxus. 


1  and  ftve-tued 
5  hudsonius. 


back   covered 
hairs ;    short, 

zon  dorsatus. 


\ 


ona  princeps. 


LADDER  423 

Hake  or  Eabbit  Family 
'  Leporidae.    Leapers 

(Number  of  North  Amorican  Species,  Twt'lvo  or  More) 

Long  ears;  hmg  hind  legs;  short,  ni)turned  tail;  five 
front  and  four  hind  toes,  with  hairy  pads.  Vegetable 
eaters;  living  in  forms  or  burrows.  i  , 

Wood  Hare  (or  Gray  Rabbit) Lepus  sylvaticus. 

Leiifith  of  body,  1(5  inches ;  tail,  2}  inches. 

Varying  Hare Lepus  americanus. 

Lengtli  of  body,  20  inches  ;  tail,  2}  inches. 

Jack  Rabbit Lepus  mefanotis. 

Length  of  body,  2  feet ;  tail,  .'J  inches. 

Marsh  Hare Lepus  palustris. 

Leiiiilh  of  body,  17  inches;  tail  Ijj  inches. 

ORDER  OF  FLESH  EATERS 
Carnivora 

Having  four  long,  ])ointed,  curved,  canine  (doglike)  teeth, 
with  snuill,  i)ointed  incisors,  or  cutting  teeth,  between  ;  never 
less  than  four  toes  on  each  foot.  The  animals  in  this  order 
are  chiefly  meat  eaters,  living  on  the  flesh  of  Avarm-blooded 
animals.  Some  individuals  need  a  mixed  diet,  and  eat  vege- 
tables liberally. 

If  we  expect  to  renuMnl)er  their  different  habits,  we  must 

divide  this  order  into :  1.  Land  Livers ;  IL  Water  Men  (sec 

page  427). 

Divi.sioN  T 

TRUE  FLESH-EATING  LAND  MAMMALS 

Toes  sharply  clawed.  In  some  iutlividuals  the  claws  can 
be  drawn  back  and  conceahMl,  !(•  kee]>  them  sl»arp  and  free 
IVoiu  wear  and  tcjir.  (\Ve  see  lliis  when  the  liouse  cat 
sheathes  her  claws.)  Some  ol  this  groui»  are  sole  walkers, 
and  some  step  only  on  the  toe  i)ads. 


424 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


Cat  Family 
Felidae 

(Nninber  of  Xorth  Ainerioan  Species,  Ten) 

Our  native  Cats  are  flesh  eaters,  living  in  solitary  pairs, 
never  hunting  in  packs.  They  wear  soft,  thick  fur ;  have 
round  heads ;  ears  of  medium  size,  either  round  or  pointed ; 
large  eyes,  the  pupil  (the  dark  spot  in  centre)  having  the 
power  to  contract  or  expand ;  rough  tongues,  covered  with 
sharp  prickles ;  and  very  strong  claws. 

Puma,  Panther,  or  Mountain  Lion  of  West    .    Felis  concofor. 
Length  of  body,  6  feet ;  tail,  3  feet.     <'''"'"^i«'«'«'') 

Ocelot,  or  Tiger  Cat Felis  pardalis. 

Length  of  body,  3  feet ;  tail,  16  inches. 


Wildcat,  or  Lynx Lynx  rufus. 

Length  of  body,  2|  feet ;  tail,  7^  inches. 


\ 


Do«  Family 
Canidae 

(Numlior  of  Nortli  Aincriciiii  S|ii'ol('.s,  Sovpii  or  Eight) 

We  have  no  purely  wild  dogs  in  North  America.  The 
Indian  and  Kskimo  Dogs  are  mongrels.  Hut  we  have  both 
Wolves  and  Foxes,  which  are  the  house  dog's  cousins. 
These  have  long  jaws;  lind)s  of  moderate  length;  short 
feet,  with  five  fore  and  four  hind  toes;  blunt  claws,  which 
they  cannot  draw  in  ;  and  tails  of  various  lengths,  bushy. 
They  are  nu)re  or  less  sociable  animals,  hunting  in  packs. 

Wolves 
Coyote,  or  Prairie  Wolf Cania  latrans. 

Length  of  body,  :'.  feet ;  tnil,  1 J  inches. 

Timber,  or  Gray  Wolf Cam's  nubilis. 

l^ength  (if  body,  4 J  feet  ;  (ail,  1^  feet. 


ive  have  both 


7ania  tatrans. 


Hani's  nubilis. 


LADDER  425 

Foxes 
Gray  Fox Urocyon  cinereo-argenteus. 

Length  of  body,  2^  feet ;  tail,  14  inches. 
Red,  Black,  or  Silver  Fox     .    .    .    Vu/pes  pennsylvanica. 

Length  of  body,  2i  feet ;  tail,  1|  feet. 
Arctic  Fox Vulpes  lagopus.    i  i 

Length  of  body,  2  feet ;  tail,  14  inches. 

Bear  Family 
Ursids 

(N\imbor  of  North  Amtricaii  Species,  Six  to  Elpht) 

Large,  broad  mammals,  with  soft,  shaggy  fur;  round, 
hairy  ears  of  medium  size ;  five-toed  feet,  Avith  naked  soles 
and  fixed  claws ;  short  tails.  Can  walk  upright.  Prefer  a 
mixed  diet. 

Black  or  Brown  Bear     ......     Ursus  amen'canus. 

Height  at  shoulder,  2  feet  10  inches. 
Grizzly  Bear Ursus  horribilis. 

Height  at  shoulder,  4  feet. 

Polar  Bear Thafarctos  maritimus. 

Height  at  shoulder,  4  feet. 

Raccoox  Family 
Procyonidae 

(Number  of  North  Amorlcnn  Hi)cck's,  Tlireo) 

Little  cousins  of  the  Bear,  resembling  both  the  liear  and 
Cat.  Broad  head,  ])ointe(l  muzzle;  stands  on  the  sole  of 
the  foot;  curved,  pointed  claws;  long  tail,  covered  with 
ringed  fur.     I*'ur  on  body  thick  and  soft. 

Raccoon Procyon  Mor. 

LiMigth  of  body,  2j|  feet ;  <ail,  11  iiiohes. 

Cacomistle.  or  Civet  Cat Bassaricus  flatrus. 

Length  of  body,  IJ  kvt ;  tail,  IJ  feet. 


f[ 


/ 


426  FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 

Family  of  Little  Fur  Bearers 
Mustelidae 

(Number  of  North  Ameiifan  Species,  Twenty  to  Thirty) 

A  large  family  of  small  and  medium  sized  fur  bearers, 
of  great  commercial  value.  Grouped  according  to  their  teeth 
and  claws.  > 

American  Otter Lutra  canadensis. 

Length  of  body,  2J  feet ;  tail,  1|  feet. 

Broad,  flat  head ;  close,  short  fur ;  long  tail ;  round  feet, 
with  webbed  toes  and  small,  blunt  claws.    Aquatic  and  flsh- 

eating.  ^ 

*** 

Common  Skunk Mephitis  mephitica. 

Length  of  body,  1|  feet ;  tail,  13  inches.  i 

Little  Striped  Skunk Spilogale  putorius. 

Length  of  body,  \\  feet ;  tail,  7^  inches. 

Small  head;  small,  round  ears;  long,  plumy  tail;  body 
long,  covered  with  black  and  white  fur  of  good  quality. 
Burrowing  animals,  living  on  mixed  food.  They  secrete  an 
offensive  odor,  which  they  use  as  a  weapon  of  defence. 

*** 

American  Sable,  or  Pine  Marten     .     .     .    Mustela  americana. 

Length  of  body,  IJ  feet ;  tail,  10  inches. 

Fisher Mustela  pennanti. 

Length  of  body,  2  feet ;  tail,  14  inches. 

Living  among  the  trees  of  rocky  woods.  Savage  animals 
for  their  size;  agile  climbers;  great  destroyers  of  small 
gnawers.     Fur  soft  and  beautiful. 

**# 
Weasel,  or  Ermine Putorius  noveboracensis. 

licngtli  of  Ixuly,  11  iiiclics  ;  till!,  7  iiiclics. 

Mink Putorius  vison. 

Length  of  bixly,  l|  ft'et;  tail,  1>  inches. 


fur  bearers, 
0  their  teeth 

'canadensis. 

round  feet, 
,tic  and  fish- 

mephitica. 

\ 

)  putonus. 

r  tail;  body 
3od  quality. 
y  secrete  an 
ifence. 

americana. 
pennanti. 

age  animals 
rs  of  small 


boracensis. 


1. 


LADDER 


427 


Small  animals,  with  long  bodies  and  a  snake-like  motion 
in  moving ;  blood-thirsty,  cunning,  great  destroyers  of  poul- 
try and  eggs.  The  northern  Weasels  are  brown  in  summer, 
but  turn  white  in  winter,  and  are  called  Ermines.  The 
Mink  remains  brown  all  the  year. 


*** 


Wolverine Gulo  luscus. 

Length  of  body,  3  feet ;  tail,  14  inches. 
Stout  body,   resembling  a  small  liear;    large  feet,  with 
curved,  sharp  claws ;  soles  between  pads,  covered  with  stout 
hair;  small  eyes;    thick,  bushy  tail;   fur  rather  long  and 
coarse.     A  very  savage  beast. 


* 
*  * 


Badger Taxidea  americana. 

Length  of  body,  21  inches  to  2  feet ;  tail,  7  inches. 

Wide  head;  stout,  flat  body ;  short  tail. 

Division  II 

flesh  eaters,  living  both  on  land  and  in  the  water 

Seals  and  Walruses 

Pinnipedia.     (Having  pinnate  or  fin-like  feet.) 

These  mammals  have  their  limbs  more  or  less  hidden  in 

the  skin  of  the  body,  in  the  shape  of  live-fingered  flippers 

arrauged  for  moving  through  the  water.     Tliey  have  round 

heads,  soft,  beautiful  eyes,  clumsy  bodies,  and  short  tails. 

All  of  this  group  spend  most  of  their  time  in  the  Avater, 

living  on  marine  food,  and  only  coming  on  land  for  a  few 

montlis  in  summer  to  bring  forth  their  young. 

Ska  Lion  Family 
Otariidae 

(Niimlicr  (if  North  Aiiii'i-icuii  S|ii'clcs,  Foiii) 

Smiill  oars,  round  head,  and  large  eyes;  long  neck,  and 
whiskers  like  seaweed.     They  walk  clumsily  on  all  fours, 


428 


FOUR-FOOTED  AMERICANS 


/ 


the  limbs  looking  like  feet  joined  to  the  body  without  legs. 
They  are  covered  all  over  with  stiff  hair,  and  in  some  species 
there  is  a  soft  under-fur,  which  is  the  familiar  "sealskin" 
of  commerce.  This  is  wrongly  named,  as  it  is  the  pelt  of  the 
Sea  Bear,  and  not  of  a  true  Seal.  Male  much  larger  than 
the  female. 

Sea  Bear,  Fur  Seal Callotaria  ursina. 

Length  of  male,  7J  feet ;  female,  4^  feet. 

Sea  Lion Zaiophus  californicus. 

Length  of  male,  15  feet ;  female,  8-9  feet. 


\ 


Walkus  Family 
Odobenidse 

(Number  of  North  A  luerican  Spemea,  Two) 

Walrus  is  a  word  adapted  from  the  Eussian,  meaning 
Whale  Horse.  Animals  of  Arctic  seas,  measuring  10-13  feet 
from  nose  to  rump.  Bulky  and  thick,  heaviest  about  shoul- 
ders, and  sloping  toward  the  rump.  Thick,  wrinkled  skin 
covered  with  rough,  yellowish  hair  which  wears  almost  en- 
tirely off  when  the  animal  is  old.  They  have  a  pair  of  long 
tusks  which  aid  in  fighting,  climbing,  and  digging  their  shell- 
fish food.  The  Walrus  is  of  commercial  value  on  account 
of  its  oil,  hide,  and  tusks. 

Atlantic  Walrus Odobenus  rosmarus. 

Length,  12  feet  3  inches. 

Pacific  Walrus Odobenus  obesua. 

Length,  12-14  feet. 


Family  of  Tuuk  Seals 
Phocidae 

(Niiiiilicr  (if  North  Aincrlcnii  Siiccics,  Niiii') 

The  ti'uc  Seal  is  the  most  water-loving  of  the  group.     Its 
hind  fiipp(n's  drag  uselessly  when  on  land,  where  it  moves 


LADDER 


2d 


by  jerking  the  body  along  with  its  fore  feet.     It  is  J    iry, 
having  no  under-fur. 

Harbor  Seal phoca  vitulina. 

Length,  4  feet. 


ca/ifornicus. 


an,  meaning 


5  rosmarus. 


ORDER  OF  INSECT  EATERS  j  , 

Insectivora 

Chiefly  small  burrowing  animals,  having  glands,  where 
their  fore  legs  join  the  body,  that  secrete  an  offensive  odor 
which  protects  them  from  the  attacks  of  flesh  eaters.  It  is 
not  entirely  proven  that  this  order  lives  wholly  on  insect 
food. 

The  Shrew  Family 

Soricidae 

(Number  of  North  American  Species,  Twenty) 

Mouse-like  heads ;  bodies  covered  with  hair.  Shrews  live 
in  shallow  burrows,  and  their  young  are  blind  and  naked  at 
birth. 

Short-tailed  Shrew Blarina  brevicauda. 

Length  of  body,  3|  inches  ;  tail,  1  inch. 

Least  Shrew Sorex  personatus. 

Length  of  body,  2^  inches  ;  tail,  1^  inches. 

Mole  Family 
Talpidae 

(Number  of  North  American  Species,  Eight) 

Common  Mole Sea/ops  aquaticus. 

Length  of  body,  4^  inches  ;  tail,  1  inch. 

Having  a  simple  pointed  nose;  front  feet  broad  and 
shovel-like ;  back  feet  webbed ;  short,  naked  tail. 

Star-nosed  Mole Condylura  cristata. 

Length  of  body,  3;^  inclios ;  tail,  •]  inches. 

End  of  snout  surrounded  by  thread-like  appendages, 
arranged  in  the  shape  of  a  star.      Tail  long  and  slightly 


^■f  '■. 


430  FOUR-FOOTED  AMEHWANS 

hairy.     Moles  live  in  burrows  which  are  reached  by  long 
tunnels. 

THE  ORDER  WING-HANDED  MAMMALS  ;, 

Chiroptera 

/  (Number  of  North  American  Species,  Eighteen) 

Fore  limbs,  or  arms,  much  enlarged  and  forming  mem- 
branous wings ;  hind  limbs  weak.  Faces  and  ears  of  many 
different  shapes  are  found  in  this  order,  which  contains  both 
insect  and  fruit  eaters. 

TiiK  TwiLKJUT  Uat  Fa^niily 

Vespertilionids 
Hoary  Bat Lasiurus  cinereus. 

Length  of  body,  5  inches  ;  spread  of  wings,  14  inches. 

Red  Bat Lasiurus  borealis. 

Length  of  body,  4  inches  ;  spread  of  wings,  12  inches. 

Little  Brown  Bat Myiotis  subutatus. 

Length  of  body,  3^  inches  ;  spread  of  wings,  10  inches. 

Mouse  or  House  Bat  Family 
Emballonuridse 

(Number  of  North  Amoriciin  Species,  Tliree) 

House  Bat Nyciinomus  brasi/ensis. 

Length  of  body,  3|  inches;  spread  of  wings,  11|  inches. 

ORDER   OF   PRIMATES 

Man  Family 
Hominidse 

The  North  American  Indian     .     .     Homo  sapiens  americanus. 

Height,  f)  feet  10  inclies.  » 

This  is  tlio  Indian  race  of  the  United  States,  and  does  not 
include  the  Eskimo. 


died  by  long 


^S 


orming  mem- 
ears  of  many 
contains  both 


INDEX  OF  ENGLISH  NAMES 


The  Latin  names  will  be  found  under  head  of  "  Ladder  for  Climbing'  the  Family  Tree 

of  North  American  Mammals." 


'US  cinereus. 

[  inches. 

'US  borealis. 

1  inches. 

5  subutatus. 

0  inches. 


!  brasi/ensis. 


americanus. 


and  does  not 


PAGES 

Antelope 25G,  207,  300 

Badger 256,  2C8 

Bat,  Hoary 399 

Bat,  House 398 

Bat,  Little  Brown    388,  395,  399,  400 

Bat,  Red...   399 

Bear,  Black  or  Brown 37(),  38G 

Bear,  Grizzly 239,  253 

Bear,  Polar 280-282 

Beaver 93,  365-375 

Bighorn 239-243,  300 

Bison 116-136 

Buffalo.    See  Bison. 

Cachelot.    See  Sperm  Whale. 
Cacomistle.    See  Civet  Cat. 

Caribou 207,  275-277,  300 

Chipmunk 57,  360,  3(il 

Civet  Cat 224-226 

Coyote 256,  267 

Deer,  American 300,  306 

Dolphin , 329,  330 

Elk 237,  277,  300-304 

Ermine.    See  Weasel. 

Fisher 137 

Fox,  Arctic; 202-204 

Fox,  (4ray 201 ,  202 

Fox,  Red,  Black,  or  Silver 

153,  158,  170,  201,  204,  206 

4; 


Gopher,  Gray  Pocket 

Gopher,  Pom^hed  or  Mole . 


I'AriKS 

.     345 
.     344 


Hare,  Marsh 

Hare,  Varying . . 

Hare,  Wood 

Hare,  Whistling 

Lemming,  Whia- 

Lynx,  Bay 

Lynx,  Canada. .. 


145-147 
150-152 
143-145 
153,  154 


33(J 
228 
229 


Manatee,  American 321-323 

Marten,  Pine 186, 187 

Mink 184,  185 

Mole,  Common 390-393 

Mole,  Star-nosed 391-393 

Moose 277,  300,  309,  319 

Mountain  Goat 239,  300 

Mountain  Lion.    See  Puma. 

Mountain  Sheep 239,  243,  300 

Mouse,  Deer  or  White-footed   91,  338 

Mouse,  Meadow IVM 

Mouse,  Pocket 34(),  347 

Mouse,  Jumping 34()-348 

Musk  Ox 278,  279,  300 

Muskrat 48,  49,  3;j<J-338 


Ocelot 

Opossum ,'U], 

Otter 


Panther.  See  Punui. 
Peccary,  Collared.  .. . 
1 


, . .  228 
376,  386 
177-180 


89,  90 


432 


INDEX   OF  ENGLISH   NAMES 


I'AOF.S 

Pika '...     m;?,  15+ 

Porpoise,  Common ;>28,  oU'.t 

PoiTiipine,  CiiiKula  . ..     IGl,  KiJi,  194 

Prairie  Dog 2r»(5,  2G7 

Puma 234,  237 

Rabbits 140,  143 

Rabbit,  (^lay 143 

Rabbit,  Jack 147,  150 

Raccoon UK),  222 

Rat,  Cotton 33!) 

Rat,  Kangaroo 'Mry,  34(5 

Rat,  Marsh 340 

Rat,  Pack 340,  341 

Rat,  Wood 340-:$42 

Sable,  American.    See  Pine  Mai'ten. 

Sea  Bear 28(i 

Sea  Lion 203 

Seal,  Fnr 280 

Seal,  Harbor 2H4 

Shrew,  Least 30r) 

Shrew,  Short-tailed 393 


PA0E8 

Skunk,  Common 176,  180,  181 

Skunk,  Little  Striped 180 

Spei'mophile,    Rock    or    Line- 
tailed 3(53, 3(>4 

Spermophile,  Striped 3<i3 

Squin-els 350 

Squirrel,  Flying 57,  352-355 

Squirrel,  Fox im 

Squirrel,  Gray 5(i,  357 

Squirrel,  Red 40,  57,  355-367 

Walrus,  Atlantic 283 

Walrus,  Pacific 283-286 

Wapiti.    See  Elk. 

Weasel 182,  183 

Whale,  Bowhead 324-32() 

Whale,  Finback 324-327 

Whale,  Sperm 324 

Wildcat 227,  230-235 

Wolf,  Gray  or  Timber 212t322 

Wolf,  Prairie.    See  Coyote. 

Wolverine 188,  189 

Woodchuck 44,  159 


AN  IDEAL  BOOK  ON  NATURE   STUDY." 


PA0E8 

176,180,181 

id 180 

:    or    Line- 

y(i3, 3()4 

d 3«i3 

350 

. . . .     57,  362-355 

.T)!) 

5(5, 357 

.     4(i,  57,  355-357 

283 

283-286 

182,  183 

324-32(i 

324-327 

324 

. . .     227,  230-235 

)er 212t322 

Coyote. 

188,  189 

44,  159 


CITIZEN  BIRD, 

Scenes  from  Bird  Life  in  Plain  English  for  Beginners.  By 
Mabel  Osgood  Wright  and  Elliott  Coues.  With  One 
Hundred  and  Eleven  Illustrations  by  Louis  Agassiz  Fuertes. 
i2mo,  Cloth,  $1.50,  net. 

This  first  issue  of  The  Heart  of  Nature  Series —  Citizen  Bird — is 
in  every  way  a  remarkalile  book.  It  is  the  story  of  the  Bird-People 
told  for  the  House-People,  especially  the  youn^f  House-People,  being 
dedicated  "To  All  Boys  and  Girls  who  Love  Birds  and  Wish  to  Pro- 
tect Them." 

It  is  not  a  mere  sympathetic  plea  for  protection.  It  shows  how  Citi- 
aen  Bird  "works  for  his  own  living  as  well  as  ours,  pays  his  rent  and 
taxes,  and  gives  free  concerts  daily";  is  scientitically  accurate  in  de- 
scription of  anatomy,  dress,  and  habits;  and  is  illustrated  by  over  one 
hundred  engravings  in  half  tone,  together  with  descriptive  diagrams, 
and  has  a  valuable  index  of  some  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  American 
birds. 

It  is  a  question  when  one  becomes  too  old  to  enjoy  such  a  delight- 
ful and  entertaining  book. 


TOMMY-ANNE 

AND 

THE  THREE  HEARTS, 

By  Mabp;l  Oscioon  Wrkjht.    With  many  Illustrations  by  Albert 
D.  Blashfield.     i2nio,  Cloth,  Colored  Edges.  #1.50. 

"This  book  is  calculated  to  intsn-st  children  in  nature,  and  jjrown  folks, 
too,  will  find  tlieinsi'lves  catchinj^  the  iiullior's  enthiisiasni.  As  fur  Toniniy- 
Anne  herself,  she  is  bound  to  make  friends  wlnrcver  she  is  known.  The 
more  of  such  books  as  these,  the  better  for  the  children.  One  Tommy- 
Anne  is  worth  a  whole  shelf  of  the  average  juvenile  literature." — Critic. 

"  Hei-  book  is  aliojjether  out  of  the  commonplaic.  It  will  be  immensely 
entertaining  to  all  children  who  have  a  tmuli  ol  iniaijinaiion,  and  it  is 
instructive  and  attractive  to  older  rea<leis  as  well." — Ont/ook. 

"The  work  is  probably  the  must  eharininjj  nature-book  for  cliikben 
published  this  year."  —  Diai, 


THE    MACMILLAN    COMPANY, 

66    FIFTH   AVENUE,    NEW   YORK. 


BIRDCRAFT. 


A  FIELD-'BOOK  OF  TIVO  HUNDT{ED  SONG,   GAME, 
AND   IVATER  "BIRDS. 

By  MABEL  OSGOOD  WRIGHT, 

Author  of  "The  Friendship  of  Nature,"  "  Toiiiiiiy-Auiic,"  "Citizeu  Bird"  etc. 


/ 


With  Eighty  full-page  plates  l)y  Louis  Ac.Assiz  Fukrtes. 
\_For  Specimen  Plate  see  other  side.\  ', 


PRESS  COMMENTS. 

"  This  is  a  charming  volume,  upon  a  pleasant  theme.  The  author  is  not  a  hard- 
hearted scientist  who  goes  forth  with  bag  and  gun  to  take  life  and  rob  nests,  but  a 
patient  and  intelligent  oljscrvcr,  who  loves  the  children  of  the  air,  and  joins  their 
fraternity.  Such  a  book  inspires  study  and  observations,  and  encourages  effort  to 
acquire  knowledge  of  the  work  of  (lod.  'J'he  book  is  a  wise  teacher  as  well  as  an 
inspiring  guide,  and  contains  beautiful,  well-arranged  illustrations." 

—  .V('7(i  York  O/iscrTer. 

"  The  author  has  struck  the  golden  mean  in  her  treatment  of  the  different  birds, 
saying  neither  too  much  nor  too  little,  but  mostly  furnishing  information  at  first 
hand,  or  from  approved  authorities.  The  book  will  be  very  welcome  to  a  large 
number  who  have  felt  the  want  of  a  work  of  this  kind.  It  will  increase  their  enjoy- 
ment of  outward  nature,  and  greatly  add  to  the  pleasure  of  a  summer  vacation." 

-  /ioston  Herald. 

"  This  is  the  third  edition  of  Birdcraft,  and  its  e.vcellences  have  alre.ady  won  the 
commendation  of  all  naturalists.  .  .  .  Such  fineness  of  truth,  such  accuracy  of  draw- 
ing, could  oidy  be  ''  ■  work  of  genius  —not  genius  which  is  simply  the  capacity  for 
hard  work,  but  gcuuis  which  is  iiuiate.  heaven-cotnmi.ssioned,  "  inbreatlied  by  the  life 
breather,"  by  the  maker  and  teacher  of  man  and  nature  alike."  -  Inter-Oceaii. 

"  Of  books  on  birds  there  arc  many,  all  more  or  less  valuable,  but  Hirdcraft,  by 
Mabel  O.  Wright,  has  peculiar  merits  that  will  endear  it  to  amateur  ornithologists.  .  .  . 
A  large  number  of  e.xccllent  illustrations  throw  light  on  the  te.vt  and  help  to  make  a 
book  that  will  arouse  tiie  delight  and  win  the  gratitude  of  every  lover  of  birds." 

—  /ioston  .Saturday  Evening  Gazette. 

"  The  book  is  attractive,  interesting,  and  helpful,  and  should  be  in  the  libr.iry  of 
every  lover  of  birds." — Science. 


Small  Quarto.    Cloth.    $2.50. 


THi:    MACMILLAN    COMPANY, 

ee  FIFTH  AVENUE.   NEW  YORK. 


WILD  NEIGHBORS. 


G,   GAME, 


itizen  Bird"  etc. 
FUKRTES. 


lor  is  not  a  liard- 
1  rob  nests,  but  a 
ir,  and  joins  their 
courages  eftbrt  to 
her  as  well  as  an 

'  York  Observer. 

he  diflerent  birds, 
iforniation  at  first 
clconie  to  a  lar^e 
:rLase  their  enjoy- 
er  vacation." 
liosion  Herald. 

;  already  won  the 
accuracy  of  draw- 
y  the  capacity  for 
reatlied  by  the  life 
itrr-Otenti. 

but  Hirdcraft,  by 
rnithologists.  .  .  . 
I  help  to  nial<e  a 
er  of  birds." 
Et'ein'tig  Gnzette. 

in  the  bbrary  of 


ANY, 


Out-Door  Studies  in  the  United  States. 

By  ERNEST  INGERSOLL, 

Attthor  of  " Cowttry  Cousins,"  ^'■Friends  Worth  A'nowing,"  eh.,  etc. 

Crown  Octavo.      Cloth.      Price,  $1.50. 

With  20  Full-page  Illustrations,  and  other  small  cuts. 

Written  by  the  author  of  a  number  of  successful  books,  sucli  as  "  Uirds'  Nesting," 
"Knocking  'Round  the  Rockies,"  "The  Crest  of  the  Continent,"  etc..  etc.;  -  a 
writer  who  has  the  gift  of  so  writing  that  the  reader  seems  to  be  seeing  with  him  the 
places  describe!,  and,  in  the  case  of  these  new  papers,  feels  as  if  he  himself  had  been 
watching  the  shy  creatures  of  whose  habits  so  fascinating  an  account  is  given.  He 
begins  with  the  little  gray  stpiirrel;  but  writes  not  only  of  the  panther,  the  myste- 
rious, despised  coyote,  badgers  aTid  other  burrowers,  of  elephants  and  other  animals; 
but  also  of  "  the  service  of  tails  "  ;  of  animal  training  and  intelligence,  and  of  perhaps 
half-a-dozen  more  topics,  closing  with  "A  Little  Brother  of  the  Hear,"  which  any  boy 
will  be  rejoiced  to  read,  with  only  one  regret  —  that  it  is  the  last. 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  AMERICAN 
INSECTS, 

By  CLARENCE  MOORES  WEED,  D.Sc, 

Professor  of  Zoo/oj^y  ami  I'.utoinology,  New  Ilaiupshire  College  of 
Agriculture  and  the  Mtchaiiic  .irts. 

Illustrated.      Cloth.      Price,  $  1.50. 

With  21  Full-page  Illustrations  and  smaller  cuts  in  the  text. 

Decorated  cover. 

A  series  of  pages  in  which  an  enthusiastic  student  of  I''.ntoniolouical  science  de- 
scribes, often  in  the  words  of,  always  with  the  intent  interest  ;\ir  of,  the  original 
observer,  —  changes  such  as  may  often  be  seen  in  an  insect's  form,  and  which  inark 
the  progress  of  its  life.  He  shows  how  very  wide  a  field  of  interesting  facts  is  in 
reacli  of  any  one  who  has  the  patience  to  collect  these  little  creatures.  '1  he  work  is 
not  a  text-bonk,  hut  cin  be  used  as  supplementary  reading.  'I'eai  hers  who  may  care 
tn  complete  their  school  or  private  libraries  by  an  exhaustive  treatment  of  Knto- 
mology  will  find  the  nuist  complete  and  up-to-date  work  of  the  kind  in  Pr.  Packard's 
elaborate  text-book,  to  be  issued  shortly,  'riiis  volume  will  serve  as  a  somewhat 
popidar  intrtuluction  to  ilu:  subject. 


THK    MACMILLAN    COMPANY, 

66   FIFTH   AVENUE,   NEW  YORK. 


